Padova Local Customs

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Palazzo del Bo is the central building of the university complex of Padova. It is named after the hostel with the sign of the ox (bue in local dialect). The palace was built in the early 14th century and was the first official residance of the Da Carraro family, until 1343 when they moved to their great Palace.

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Angelo Beolco, also known as Ruzante (1500-1542), was a great storyteller of the Renaissance. His work as a writer-actor started early in life.
Ruzante, together with his colleagues set up the Commedia dell' Arte Italiana, from which great European playwrights drew much inspiration, in particular Moliere and Shakespeare.

I have included this picture of the police station so it will be easier to locate when you require a permesso. Just go along the street to the left of this building, and the Gates of Hell are located on the right.

If you are lucky, it will be manned, but don't go between noon and 1:30...everyone but the people contained within the gates go to lunch then. The others remain locked in until lunch has been consumed.

The attached photo shows a familiar courtyard to anyone extending their visit to Padova.

This is the back of the police station, where visitors huddle together for warmth from 6am until gosh knows when, waving their documents or passports, attempting to be a 'chosen' one.

You begin by lining up outside the gate, gradually work your way inside the gated enclosure (which is locked behind you), and eventually gain entrance to the interior of the police station, where you are treated to an interregation of great magnitude in a foreign language, poor manners, and personal humility.

The worst thing is that one hand does not know what the other hand is doing, nor do they seem to care. You get bounced from one office to another, with no clear guidelines or check list to follow.

Anyone who requires a permission to stay within Italian borders must go through this process. If one letter is not dotted, one 'stamp' not affixed, an additional set of 'photos' required, you are ejected, to go through the entire process the following day.

Pouring rain means nothing, extreme temperatures don't count, a bowel movement will 'cost' at the port-a-potties (pity you if you have no change).

This is one reason Ma Kettle and I hesitate taking permanent residence within Italy. We have spent days within this courtyard, as have countless thousands of people before us, many with newborn babies or young children in tow. We have been fortunate as we are white, Canadian, blessed with permanent incomes, and Ma Kettle was born in Italy. Others...I feel pity for. I truly do.

Very inhumane, and a serious character flaw for Italians everywhere, much like a festering boil on a person's neck. Everybody knows it exists, but the preference is to ignor it.

Wrong, wrong, wrong. Heve compassion for others. Only the Italian citizen can demand changes.

A short while ago, I attempted to pick up a parcel from the main Post Office in Padova. In order to be served efficiently, you are expected to depress the appropriate button on the machine shown in the accompanying photo. However, you have five buttons to choose from, each button for a different function of the Post Office, including banking.

I messed up (twice), and finally decided to take a photo of this machine for future reference and correct translation purposes.

Well, I learned the hard way. I had an angry postal worker to answer to, plus a couple of the boys in blue who wanted an explanation of my actions. Apparently terrorism is a concern, but primarily to foil would be bank robbers 'casing the joint'.

I was forced to erase my photo, but found upon my return home, that I had actually taken two pictures. This one survived, although it is a tad blurry.

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January 6 is the magical day that Le Befana does her thing, and coincidentally her day of break and enter just 'happens' to fall on the Feast of the Epiphany. This does not replace Christmas, but is simply an added day of excitement for the youngsters.

Later in the day, traps must be set to tempt the old witch into the city center, because somehow she is apprehended, tied to a stake, and set on fire. This symbolizes 'Out with the old, in with the new'. Strangely enough, this occurs every year, with the same old witch falling for the same old trick.

La Befana is an ancient witch with a big wart on top of her nose, wearing an old coat patched with colorful swatches of material. She wears old black shoes that have seen better days, and flies around on a broom carrying a large sack over her shoulder filled with sweets and presents for children in Italy. She enters the houses much like Santa does through the chimneys and deposits the presents inside old socks hung on the mantel or on the bedposts. This is done in very short order, and surprisingly, nary a house alarm is discharged.

Legend goes that children who have been bad throughout the year will find their stockings filled with coal instead of toys. However, this must be an old wives tale, because there are no such recorded events ever occuring in Italy.

It is a big deal for the children in Italy. It is also a great boost to merchants in mobile vans who set up huge displays of candy, including red and black coal-like lumps of sugar crystal.

Every purchase made in Italy generally requires a bag to carry it in, but be warned, most stores such as hardware stores, grocery stores, discount chains require you to pay approx. .05 euro per bag. So, expect a request from the clerk just as he/she starts to put your purchases through the til, the request asking if you need bags.

The bags are normally located just at the front of the til, underneath the conveyor belt. Pick up what you need, and be prepared to hand them over to the clerk when you are asked. Saves time and any hesitation if you don't speak Italian. If you wave the bags and the clerk has just commented on the weather, big deal, at least you broke the ice.

The whole point of visiting a foreign country is for the experiences. Enjoy your every little mistake. That makes for fine story telling back home.

As an odd contrast, very often purchases are beautifully wrapped for you by the store clerk, with ribbons and bows, and placed in wonderful little bags. We have even had cheap purchases from the dollar store (under a euro) wrapped.

I don't wish to criticize, but have found, in general at least, fresh meats to be of poorer quality. I find beef to be tough, and poultry often to be the same. I was disappointed in the Florentine beef also, having tried it three times at different restaurants.

Sausages however, in whatever form, are excellent, whether dried, or fresh. Hams, no doubt... as are smoked pork chops which taste just like Canadian Ham steak, but more flavourful.

From questioning our Italian friends, they also believe that Beef is of a poorer quality, and blame it on the fact that cattle live their life tied up in a stationary manner, and never freely roam the fields. I am unable to confirm or deny these beliefs.