Padova Favorites

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Favorite thing: The Towns Loggia della Gran Guardia (1496-1553) is situated on Piazza dei Signori, next to the Palazzo del Capitano. It housed the Council of Nobles of the city, nowadays it is used as an conference centre.

Fondest memory: For a funny slant on Life in Italy, please click on to the following site. I have never laughed so loud or so long as I did watching this clip.

Please note I take no credit for the production, but I wish I had this talent.

http://www.infonegocio.com/xeron/bruno/italy.html

Favorite thing: Basilica of St. Anthony...you can't wear shorts.

PLUS, the market squares:

Piazza Erbe for a selection of odds and ends, clothing, handbags, knick nacks etc., etc.
Piazza Frutta for the freshest assortment of fruits and vegetables, spices, and candy. If you're here in the fall, look for freshly roasted chestnuts, and buy the largest bag they offer, or you'll just have to backtrack to purchase more later. (wonderful hot)

Beneath the Palazzo della Ragione, you'll find two aisles of fish mongers, cheese venders, and delicatessens (salumerie). Fresh, fresh, fresh.

Fondest memory: The people. Padova has very nice, warm, and caring people. This is a generalization of course, but we have found that shopkeepers try very hard to accomodate, bus drivers always lend a hand when questions arise, and the customer service people at the train station are outstanding.

Italian people want to learn English, therefore will attempt to speak to you in English whenever possible. I am embarrassed when I compare my feeble linguistic skills to theirs.

Favorite thing: This is something you would typically see on the walls and architecture at the University of Padova. Very detailed and fine carvings and sculptures. Once again, you feel you are more like at a museum than at a university. In fact, this is one of the oldest universities in Italy.

Fondest memory: The university in Padova is also a must-see activity. The university is very ancient. Its architecture is magnificent. There are a lot of sculptures and carvings on the walls. And you won't feel that you're at a university; you feel more like being at a museum. There are no actual "doors" to the university. It's embedded within shopping and entertainment in downtown Padova.

Fondest memory: More arch-like structures can be found in the courtyards of the Basilica Di Sant' Antonio. The yards are pretty huge and there's lots of nice carvings and sculptures embedded in the architecture. The basilica and the area surrounding it is a must-see in Padova.

Fondest memory: The Basilica Di Sant' Antonio is a magnificent cathedral. It is pretty huge, and the design of the basilica contains a lot of arch-like structures. Inside the basilica it is pretty awesome as well. I would say this basilica is comparable to the one in Venice.

Favorite thing: There are some cities, like Venice that - being located on the sea - live on water. No one is surprised by it. Padova - by contrast - came as a surprise: I wasn't expecting so many rivers and canals, actually I wasn't expecting any at all. Had I not been pushed for time I would have taken a boat cruise through to city and out to the surrounding countryside

Fondest memory: There are two main rivers: the Brenta in the north and the fiume Bacchiglione in the south. These rivers are linked together by a series of canals: some are clean and charming, opthers are smelly and dirty. In the middle ages that were over 150 of them