Visit Padua

Recently another Veneto’s town has been added to the list of the Unesco World heritage: Padua.

When you visit Padua you lose yourself in a frescoed town, which gained this important title thanks to the presence of eight civic and religious complexes: they are magical places that house marvellous cycles of frescoes, painted in the 14th century by several artists, and they still keep a unity of style and content.

Probably the most important name is Giotto’s: this master used an innovative and revolutionary style and his characters are so expressive that they still move us.

Other important artists left a mark: we can mention Andrea Mantegna, with his innovative study about the perspective, or the great Donatello; when you visit Padua, you’ll have the chance to see his equestrian monument to the condottiero Gattamelata, that dominates the square in front of the Basilica . Moreover inside this church other art treasures are still preserved, like the sculptures that Donatello made for the bronze altar.

In fact “The Saint”, where the heartily remains of Saint Anthony are preserved, attracts thousands of pilgrims every year: they come here for a prayer, but also to admire the beauty of the Basilica, a majestic and complex structure.

Come and visit Padua: you’ll discover the city that has “Saint without a name, a meadow without grass, and a café without doors”.

In fact the Basilica is very close to Prato della Valle, “the meadow without grass”, one of the biggest European squares: a canal runs around a central Island (Isola Memmia) and you can see the statue flaking the water. 

They represent the most important personalities of Padua: you can challenge each other and count how many of them you can recognise!

Under the Romans there was a theatre and it was the place for the celebrations and the markets and somehow it maintained its functions, as events and concerts still take place here.

If you visit Padua,  you’ll have the chance to wander through its beautiful squares.

Piazza delle Erbe (herbs) is one of the most popular squares, with its small stores and embellished by the scenography of the marvellous Palazzo della Ragione; it was the ancient courthouse and inside the 80 meters long frescoed chamber is still visible.

The other side of the building faces the Square of the Fruits, another important marketplace, while the Square of the Lord is not far.

Then, if you walk under the wonderful astronomical clock on this last area, you can reach another square, where there was the Castle of the Carraresi (the Lords of Padua). Today here you can see the students entering or leaving the faculty of Literature and Philosophy in the Liviano Palace.

When you visit Padua, you’ll surely enjoy some free time among the refined shop windows, pampering yourself with an aperitif or a coffee. 

And what about enjoying one of these drinks in one of the most iconic places?

You can’t miss the delicious mint coffee at the Pedrocchi café. During our guided tour we’ll take you there and we’ll tell you about this monumental and elegant venue.

And don’t be surprised if you might hear some clamour when you visit Padua: one of the most ancient universities of the world was established in this vibrant city in 1222. Its main site is the famous “Palace of the Bo”. 

Connected to the presence of this illustrious Institution, there are many interesting Museums and an amazing Botanical Garden that was created in 1545: its ancient nucleus is still the same since then.