Fun things to do in Padova

The Basilica of St Anthony is the main sight to see in Padova - in fact a place of pilgrimage for some. Its construction began immediately after the death of the Santo (1231) and completed at the beginning of the following century. This imposing basilica with its Romanesque-Gothic style, with eight domes and spires of eastern inspiration holds the body of St. Anthony and is the object of pilgrimages from all over the world.

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If you like astronomy you cant miss this!!! The original building was the tower of a Padova castles started on the 1200. In the 1700 the Venetian republic decided to give to the Padova's university a astronomic observatory and they used the old tower to buikd it saving some money!!
Lately the old observatory have been restored and turned in a museum. The visit cost 5 euros and they will show you old instruments and you will know the story of this old building. Lots of people believe that Galileo Galilei worked here, but he taught in Padova university many years before this place was converted in a observatory so this is a metropolitan legend he he, but this place is still very interesting :-)

Even if you are not so interested in astronomy, well, the view from the top of the tower worth the visit itself!!!

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The church of San Nicolo dates back to 1088, and its medieval appearance is almost unaltered. However, in the 14th century the height of the church was increased, as it can be noticed by the ogival vaulting in the nave. At the same time a fourth aisle was added on the south side in order to widen the building proportionately. San Nicolo was a basilica with the typical nave and two aisles. Since it is standing in the most aristocratic area of medieval Padova, San Nicolo is very rich with nobile chapels, altars and burial monuments of famous families, such as Transalgardi, Forzate and others.

Padova is a city of water, many canals surround the center giving you nice and peaceful views. Some of them can be sailed and there is organized tour starting from the center and going along the old walls or in Venice direction, sailing along the Brenta Riviera, where many important Venetians villas are.
Check the website for much more information.

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Every year, Sacro Cuore (our neighbourhood) has a Sagra, which combines a feast with amusement rides, and proceeds of the profits go towards Parish Projects. This year Ma Kettle and I attended with our adoptive daughter Paola, commonly known as 'paoseo' within our VT community.

This is a fairly big deal, with lots of amusement stands, rides for all ages, and great food. There is no charge for admittance, and the Sagra is a popular venue attended every year by our neighbours, their friends, and people from outlying areas. In fact, I heard last night, our neighbourhood has a population of only 6000 people, but the average number of meals served during the five day festival numbers over 40,000. This is a tremendous turnout for an event like this.

To order your meals, you first complete an order form from the large menu board on the wall, and join the line to pay. Now, understand, this is Italy, and Italians don't really understand the concept of waiting in line. There is a lot of cutting in, but it is done in a very polite and orderly fashion. The Italians have this practice down to an art, and tourists don't stand a chance. Don't take it personally, it is a time honoured tradition.

For two complete meals, including roast chicken, gnocchi, fries (very popular) and a litre of wine, we paid 20 euro. Not bad for an evening out. You then find a bench somewhere within the huge tented dining area, and in time one of the volunteer staff will collect your receipt. It is your responsibility to get your own beverages from the bar area, while the staff places your food order.

Great fun, lots of visiting back and forth, and a general feeling of togetherness which we find so common in Italy. Expect to be jostled a tad during dinner as newcomers might request your party move down in order to accomodate others.

Just kidding, buy a map at a newstand, but don't expect it to help you once you're in the Center. Best way to explore, find an intersection, mark it on your map in highliter pen, and radiate outwards.

It doesn't work for me, but my wife swears by the method. I, on the other hand, get lost in an elevator. (actually as I walk out of an elevator, I always go the wrong way)

Padova has lots to see in the center, open air markets, countless shops, the university (second oldest in Italy), but remember, shops close between 12:30-3:30 or 1:00-4:00 for lunch. Have fun wandering.

There Salon has a ornate loggia on the outside and is adorned with beautiful frescoes - of astrological and religious subjects. Unfortunatly they are not the originals, which were attributed to Giotto and to his school, as they were destroyed in a fire in 1420 . The "newer" ones are by Nicolo' Miretto and Stefano da Ferrara (1425-1440).

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Although this tip doesn't deal with the monuments tourists usually visit in Padova (Sant'Antonio, Piazza delle Erbe, and so on), I really think it is a must not only for tourists.
Memoria e luce ("Memory and light" because it can be illuminated) represents an open book like the one that the Statue of Liberty holds in her hand and is the only European monument to the victims of the 11th September 2001 terror attacks in New York. It celebrates in particular the numerous firemen who died while trying to save other people. The New York firemen gave a beam of the World Trade Center as a gift to the Region of Veneto.
The model of the monument by Daniel Libeskind, which was selected among many proposals, was exhibited in the hall of the Padova railway station in 2006, but no more now. Its base reported the poem written in the book of the Statue of Liberty. You are lucky that I took a photo of it, so you can still see it (fourth and fifth photos of this tip)!
Thank you Veneto and Padova for honouring my country once more! God bless America!