Enchanting Padova

Padova is sadly neglected by the millions and millions of tourists who visit the Veneto each year. Most of them rush off to Venice, Verona, or Lake Garda with hardly a thought for the wonderful towns and villages that they are missing out on. Places like Asolo, Marostica and Padova.

Enough talking let's head off to explore Padova...

Getting About

Bicycles and the great public transport system consisting of buses and trams are the best ways to explore the town. Walking too is a pleasure here, but watch out for those bicycles; they tend to silently sneak up on you as you cross the roads.

The Scrovegni Chapel - Padova's Number 1 Attraction

Watch the video below to get an idea of the awesome beauty of this chapel painted by Giotto. It will give you an idea, but nothing can prepare you for actually being there—the beauty is overwhelming. It brought me to tears. Visit for yourself, and you will instantly understand why this is considered one of the most beautiful works of art on earth.

At the Market

Padova has an absolutely wonderful food market, one of the loveliest in all of Italy. Join us on a walk through it...

Botanical Gardens

The Botanical Gardens of Padova are among the oldest in the world, dating back to the 16th century. There's an incredibly modern greenhouse, with fascinating sections on plants from every continent, but I tend to like the old greenhouse more; it's pretty much abandoned now, but it really is characteristic.

Prato delle Valle

Prato della Valle is one of the most pleasant parts of the city to pass a few hours. It's a bit like a huge piazza, it's a bit like a park, and it's a little like an art gallery—with seventy plus sculptures of famous people that date back hundreds of years. Locals flock here on those long summer evenings; the park is filled with picnics, couples enjoying a passeggiata, and elderly folk catching up on the news and gossip.

St. Anthony

I love the Basilica of St. Anthony; actually, it is one of my favorites in all of Italy. It looks like something from Rome mixed with something from Constantinople. One of the most moving and magnificent basilicas you will ever see. Definitely one of the most beautiful churches in Italy.

Canals

Padova also has its fair share of canals. Okay, it isn't Venice, but there are a lot of them, and they are lovely to wander along on a summer's day.

Palazzo della Ragione

Palazzo della Ragione, and the area around here, is the heart of the city. In the morning there is a market, and there's no better way to pass a morning than browsing the fascinating stalls and then enjoying a cappuccino or an aperitivo while watching the world go by at one of the many cafes here.

This area is popular at night too, with many restaurants nearby. Not too far away is one of the ones I really like: the Trattoria San Pietro in Via S. Pietro, 95, and the Osteria Ai Scarponi in Via Cesare Battisti 138.

Map of Padova

For our more detailed guide to Padua click here.