Padua

<< Veneto

A city of arts, culture, science, and religion, Padua (Padova) has always been one of the most important economic hubs of Veneto, also thanks to its central position near the Euganean Hills and the Venetian Lagoon. The Roman Patavium already enjoyed this status and flourished becoming one of the richest cities of the Empire. After a period of decline, Padua was reborn during the age of the comuni, growing to be among the cultural capitals of Italy, with its university hosting the most prominent scholars of the Late Middle Ages and the Renaissance. Padua later became part of the domains of Venice and followed its history until today. Now Padua still hosts a rich cultural environment and a large amount of artworks and palaces from its medieval golden age.

✪ Scrovegni Chapel

Located among the Giardini dell’Arena, the small Scrovegni Chapel (Cappella degli Scrovegni) hosts one of the most prominent masterpieces of medieval Western art, the impressive series of frescoes painted by Giotto between 1303 and 1305, and it is now a UNESCO World Heritage site. The very well preserved cycle entirely covers the interior of the chapel, and was so influential at the time that it sparked a revolution in Italian and European art, with its innovative techniques and contents. The frescoes narrating the Life of Christ and the Life of the Virgin decorate the internal walls, ending with the large Last Judgment on the rear end of the chapel, while the ceiling is adorned with an iconic blue sky with stars.

✪ Basilica of Saint Anthony of Padua

The most visited church in Padua is the Basilica of Saint Anthony (Basilica di Sant’Antonio di Padova), locally known as Il Santo (The Saint). The construction of this large basilica started in 1232, just one year after the death of Saint Anthony and it was completed in 1310. Various different styles are blended together here, from the rather simple Romanesque facade to the large Byzantine-style domes, while the interiors and its many chapels are completely filled with lavish frescoes, sculptures, and tabernacles. Among various funerary monuments, the Basilica hosts the relics of Saint Anthony and, most famously, his chin and tongue are displayed in a reliquary. Adjacent to the Basilica is the Museo Antoniano dedicated to the life of the Saint. The Basilica is now a UNESCO World Heritage site.

✪ Prato della Valle

The largest square in Padua, and among the largest ones in Europe, is Prato della Valle, located at the southern end of the historic city center. This area was swampy and empty until the late 18th century, when it was restored according to the project of Andrea Memmo. An elliptical island surrounded by a moat, called Isola Memmia, was built in the middle of the square. Both sides of the canal are decorated with a total of 78 statues depicting historical personalities linked with the city of Padua. Among the various historic buildings facing Prato della Valle is the Loggia Amulea, a 19th-century neogothic palace, and Palazzo Angeli which hosts the Museum of Precinema, while the southeastern side opens toward the Abbey of Santa Giustina.

✪ Abbey of Santa Giustina

The Abbey of Santa Giustina (Basilica di Santa Giustina) is a large religious complex and Benedictine abbey near Prato della Valle. It traces its origins in the 6th century and it soon became one of the most important Christian sites in the region, with pilgrims coming to venerate the relics of Saint Justina of Padua. After long restoration works in the Late Middle Ages, it gained its current appearance during the Renaissance, and it is still to this day one of the largest churches in the world. The interior hosts numerous decorated chapels filled with statues and frescoes and the remains of various saints.

✪ Palazzo della Ragione

A large medieval building that served as town hall, market place, and palace of justice. Originally completed in 1219, it gained its current shape with a wooden ceiling only during the 14th century, when it was also adorned with frescoes by Giotto. These were lost in a fire in 1420 and later restored, and now the cycle occupies the entire internal walls of the main hall (Salone). This huge hall also hosts a large wooden horse built in 1466, and the peculiar Pietra del Vituperio, a stone tool used to punish debtors. The ground floor underneath the Salone still houses the city’s market hall, and the whole palace is a UNESCO World Heritage site. Palazzo della Ragione stands in between the two historic market squares of Padua, Piazza delle Erbe and Piazza della Frutta, which are also surrounded by historic buildings.

✪ Bo Palace

The University of Padua is one of the oldest ones in the world, being founded in 1222. However, it only acquired its historical seat in the Bo Palace (Palazzo del Bo) in 1493, moving there in 1501 after expanding the previous building. Since 1594 the Bo Palace hosts the Anatomical Theater of Padua (Teatro Anatomico di Padova), the oldest room of its type in the world, used for centuries to teach anatomy. Also inside this palace is the Cattedra di Galileo, the desk used by Galileo Galilei when he was a teacher at the University of Padua. Among the many historic spaces inside the Bo Palace, the most notable is the large main hall (Aula Magna), which is richly frescoed and adorned with many coat of arms. Numerous ensigns are also featured all along the walls of the palace’s loggia.

✪ Piazza dei Signori

Piazza dei Signori is one of the main squares of Padua, surrounded by historic buildings such as the Loggia del Consiglio and the Church of San Clemente. One side of Piazza dei Signori is dominated by the twin Palazzo del Capitanio and Palazzo dei Camerlenghi, with the iconic Clock Tower standing in between and over a triumphal arch. The original astronomical clock was made in 1344 but it was later destroyed, while the current one was inaugurated as a faithful replica in 1437, and it was placed on the tower. Nevertheless, it is one of the oldest clocks in the world still in working order and one of the most famous landmarks in Padua.

✪ Padua Baptistery

The Padua Baptistery (Battistero di Padova) is located next to the Cathedral and it hosts a cycle of frescoes painted between 1375 and 1376 by Giusto de’ Menabuoi. These frescoes cover all the internal walls of the baptistery and among the many religious scenes, the most impressive ones are those of the ceiling, which depict a wheel of angels and saints surrounding a Christ Pantocrator. This baptistery is included in the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

✪ Botanical Garden of Padua

The Botanical Garden of Padua (Orto Botanico di Padova) was opened in 1545 and it is the oldest academical botanical garden in the world that is still in its original location. It features a very varied collection of plants and ancient trees in a beautiful environment that evolved during the centuries while keeping its Renaissance appearance. This garden is now a UNESCO World Heritage site.

✪ Specola

The Specola was originally a tower known as Torlonga built as part of the medieval fortress now called Carrarese Castle of Padua. In 1777 it was restored and turned into an astronomical observatory, soon becoming an important scientific hub. The observatory was active until 1942, when the main operations were moved to the Asiago Astrophysical Observatory. Now the Specola hosts a museum of historic astronomical instruments and the offices of the National Institute for Astrophysics. The Department of Astronomy of the University of Padua is located in the adjacent building.

Pedrocchi Café

The center of 19th century cultural life in Padua, the lavish neoclassical building hosting the Pedrocchi Café (Caffè Pedrocchi) was inaugurated in 1831 and it was open day and night until 1916, becoming known as the “café without doors”. It soon became a meeting point for intellectuals and here, in 1848, a student was wounded during a protest against the Austrian occupation, a pivotal event in the Italian Risorgimento. Today it is still among the most visited cafés in Padua and the first floor hosts the Museum of Risorgimento and the Contemporary Era (Museo del Risorgimento e dell’Età Contemporanea).

Civic Museums of the Eremitani

The most important museum complex in Padua, also including the Scrovegni Chapel. The main building is adjacent to the Church of the Eremitani and hosts an archaeological collection mostly focused on the Roman era and an art gallery with works from the Middle Ages and the Early Modern period. Just across the road is Palazzo Zuckermann, which is also part of the Civic Museums of the Eremitani (Musei Civici agli Eremitani), housing the Museum of Applied and Decorative Arts (Museo di Arti Applicate e Decorative), with a collection spanning several centuries and the Bottacin Museum (Museo Bottacin), which is mostly famous for it treasure of coins and medals, among 19th-century paintings and sculptures.

Church of the Eremitani

Located close to the Scrovegni Chapel and adjacent to the Civic Museums of the Eremitani, this 13th-century church was almost completely destroyed during World War II and later rebuilt. Unfortunately most of the original frescoes were lost. The Ovetari Chapel (Cappella Ovetari) used to host a cycle of frescoes painted during the 15th century by Mantegna, and only some fragments have survived. Nevertheless, the church still houses some impressive medieval and Renaissance artworks and it has been included in the list of UNESCO World Heritage sites.

Museum of History of Medicine

Medicine has always been one of the most important disciplines at the University of Padua, which is one of the most prominent medical schools in Europe. The long history of the study of medicine in this city is displayed in the rich collections of the Museum of History of Medicine (Museo di Storia della Medicina), a science center that occupies three floors of the former hospital known as Ospedale di San Francesco Grande.

Palazzo Comunale

Also known as: Palazzo Moroni

The seat of the municipality of Padua is hosted in a series of adjacent palaces of different eras, spanning a wide area of the city center. While the main entrance, facing the Bo Palace and known as Ala Moretti-Scarpari, was built during the 1920s, the oldest parts of the complex date back to the 11th or 12th century. That was the time when the Palazzo del Consiglio was erected, adorned with a tall civic tower called Torre degli Anziani. This original building was later expanded with the Palazzo degli Anziani and Palazzo del Podestà, all connected with each other and with the nearby Palazzo della Ragione. Separated from the complex and located on the other side of Piazza delle Erbe is Palazzo delle Debite, a 19th-century addition.

Palazzo Liviano

Palazzo Liviano is one of the seats of the University of Padua, hosting the School of Humanities, the Department of Cultural Heritage and a museum. It is located on Piazza Capitaniato, formerly a courtyard of the now-demolished Reggia Carrarese, the monumental palace complex of the local lords. Palazzo Liviano also hosts the Sala dei Giganti, a richly frescoed hall that was once part of the Reggia Carrarese and it is now used for events and concerts.

Padua Cathedral

Also known as: Basilica Cathedral of Saint Mary of the Assumption (Basilica Cattedrale di Santa Maria Assunta)

The Padua Cathedral (Duomo di Padova) underwent many renovations and was rebuilt several times since its origins in the Early Middle Ages. It gained its current appearance between the 16th and 18th century, partially modeled on a design by Michelangelo, but the facade has remained incomplete. Contrasting with this facade is the opposite side of the church, that features an elaborate apse and dome with a tall bell tower. The sober interior hosts various artworks and decorated chapels. The remains of various saints are hosted in some of these chapels and the crypt. Adjacent to the Cathedral is the Padua Baptistery.

Diocesan Museum of Padua

The Diocesan Museum of Padua (Museo Diocesano di Padova) is hosted in the Palazzo Vescovile, the former bishop’s palace located next to the Padua Cathedral. In its richly adorned and frescoed halls, this museum displays a wide range of religious artifacts spanning from the 9th to the 19th century.

Equestrian Statue of Gattamelata

The Equestrian Statue of Gattamelata (Monumento Equestre al Gattamelata) is a bronze sculpture made by Donatello between 1446 and 1453 and located in Piazza del Santo, in front of the Basilica of Saint Anthony. A very influential work of art and the first large equestrian statue of the Italian Renaissance, it depicts military commander and mercenary Erasmo da Narni, known as Gattamelata, who served under the Republic of Venice.

Oratory of San Giorgio

The Oratory of San Giorgio is located next to the Basilica of Saint Anthony and facing Piazza del Santo and features a series of frescoes painted between 1379 and 1384 by Altichiero da Zevio. Among other buildings hosting 14th-century frescoes in Padua, this oratory too is a UNESCO World Heritage site.

Scuola del Santo

The small Scuola del Santo is located in Piazza del Santo and adjacent to the Oratory of San Giorgio. It was the headquarters of the Archiconfraternity of Saint Anthony of Padua and it hosts various Renaissance frescoes and three paintings by a young Titian.

Oratory of San Michele

The Oratory of San Michele is a small chapel and one of the UNESCO World Heritage sites in Padua thanks to the notable cycle of frescoes painted by Jacopo da Verona in 1397 that are hosted inside.

Tomb of Antenor

Antenor was a Trojan warrior regarded as the legendary founder of Padua. When in 1274 a funerary arch with a sword and gold coins was unearthed, a local scholar attributed the relics to Antenor, and soon a monument was built to host the sarcophagus. Originally located next to a church, the building was later demolished and so the monument now stands in the middle of Piazza Antenore. More recent studies have claimed that the remains might be dated around the age of the Late Roman Empire.

Porta Altinate

Porta Altinate is one of the surviving medieval city gates of Padua, and it is to this day a busy pedestrian passage, connecting the important Via Altinate and the central Piazza Garibaldi. This monumental gate was built during the 12th century but was later destroyed during a siege in 1256, and restored in 1286.

Church of San Gaetano

The Church of San Gaetano is a Renaissance church built in the late 16th century and it is mostly notable for its octagonal interior topped with an elaborate ceiling fresco by French painter Guy-Louis Vernansal. The adjacent monastery has been turned into the Cultural Center Altinate/San Gaetano, which hosts a library, temporary exhibitions, and cultural events.

Ghetto of Padua

The narrow roads and porticoes south of Piazza delle Erbe lead to the heart of the ancient Jewish Ghetto, established in 1603 and originally closed by four doors. Inside this area is the Padua Synagogue, the only synagogue still in use in the city, and the Jewish Museum of Padua (Museo della Padova Ebraica) which showcases the history of the local Jewish community.

Museum of Precinema

Also known as: Minici Zotti Collection (Collezione Minici Zotti)

The Museum of Precinema is housed in the historical Palazzo Angeli facing Prato della Valle. It displays a collection of instruments and optical devices used before the invention of the cinematograph, and also hosts exhibitions.

Porta Ognissanti

Also known as: Porta Portello

Porta Ognissanti is one of the few surviving parts of the Renaissance city walls of Padua. Located along the Piovego river it was once the entry point for ships coming from Venice and the Brenta Riviera, and so it turned into a small port, or portello, and so today is more commonly knows as Porta Portello.

Esapolis

Esapolis is the largest insectarium in Italy, located in the neighborhood of Brusegana at the outskirts of Padua. The exhibition features a wide variety of insects, but also an aquarium, a museum, and a library.