Padova Local Customs

I have been offered food without knowing what it is as the locals know that many foreigners do not eat horsemeat or donkey, and they might shy away from tripe, and some cuts of meat.
So before you buy or order up something, be sure you have a good translation.
I have had both horsemeat and donkey and although I would not normally order this for my dinner, I found it to be actually quite good.
You will find many meat shops that specialize in horsemeat in the market in Padova, and I have found donkey on the listed items on a few menus.
See my tips for Osteria alla Chiesa in Asolo and you can see a photo of donkey.

Celebrations and feast in honour of one of the most beloved saints of Christianity, St. Anthony. On the 13th June the city celebrates the saint with religious celebrations in the Basilica of St. Anthony in Padua and in the afternoon a holy procession along the city streets.

Spritz is a digestive drink that italians use to drink at the afternoon time or during the evening.It is very popular at the Veneto region and especially at christmas time.It consists of dry white wine and soda water.During my staying in Padova I used to take a spritz with my friends before we start nightlife :)

My wife speaks Italian fluently, albeit with a southern dialect, and people often comment how well she speaks Italian (for a Canadian).

On the other hand, I've been married to an Italian for 37 years, ate Sunday dinner in an Italian household every weekend for as long as I can remember, listened to countless arguments (discussions), but can't remember phrases when unexpectedly asked. I understand lots, but butcher this beautiful language horribly.

I smile a lot, nod a lot, look dumb a lot and hope a lot, but get by. However, the important thing is, I try, and besides getting a laugh, I get respect. The Italian people appreciate your attempts at communicating in 'their' language, in 'their' country.

If all else fails, shrug, look goofy, then point. Works for me. Oh yes, I carry a language book with me at all times with pictures of food, animals, and other necessary things. It looks impressive sitting beside your plate in a restaurant, and you are automatically forgiven for screw-ups.

Maria and I have, on a number of occasions now, gone visiting, and upon entering a persons home, removed our shoes, and the host/hostess immediately offers us a pair of slippers to wear. This, I suppose, is due to the common use of marble or ceramic flooring, and thus, is rather cool on your tootsies. Typically in Italy, visitors are not expected to remove their shoes. I still feel odd not doing so.

Now, I admit, I am not fussy about wearing footwear which has previously adorned someone elses size 10, so, we now carry our own slim, compact slippers in my backpack, ready for instant removal.

These are not mandatory, and normally backpackers wouldn't dream of carrying these, but our life style and age allows us more leeway than perhaps others enjoy. Maybe its because I'll be d#%*#@* if I'll wear someone elses slippers.

Just a tip...

2 more images

Who was Elena Lucrezia Cornaro Piscopia, never heard of her before visiting the University of Padova. The inscription in Italian says; "prima donna laureata nel mondo", the first woman ever in the whole world who graduated in the university. The statue stands in the ground floor of the univerity of Padova.

Francesco Petrarca (1304 - 1374), along with Dante and Bocaccio, he is one of the three great writers of the 14th century, to whom the italian language is indebted.
He spent the last part of his life in Padova, at the court of Da Carrara.
The statue to Petrarca stands right in front of basilica del Carmine, on the ononymous piazza.

The atrium, the courtyard, staircases, loggias and halls, and especially the Aula Magna of the old main palace are covered with an almost contiouous display of noble coats of arms, in relief, of the Rectors and their Assesors and Councillors, dating from 1542 to 1688, when all available space was used up.
One of the most attractive sights of the University is undoubtely the Anatomical Theatre.