Padova Things to Do

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It is a grand cafe founded in 1772, and coffee house first open in 1831. The ground floor was styled to hold large parties and therefor has a grand open feel to it, and was decorated between 1840-42 following the style of Pedrocchi The entrance to the musuem protion is up a flight of stairs just to the right of the facade entrance. There are some well decorated rooms and the colors are dark and elegant in luxury. They have an Egyptian room, many other small rooms with frescoes, and a Museo di Risorgimento. There was an uprising of students against the Austrian rule in 1848. This is now owned by the city of Padova.
Entry fee is included in Padova card costing 15 Euro, or I believe separate cost is 3-4 Euro. Open 10-12 and 15-17 daily except Monday.

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The frescoes surrounding the huge complex was first painted by Giotto in 1315-17, then destroyed in a fire in 1402 and repainted by Miretto and Stefano over 15 years. Then again, a hurricane tore off the roof in 1756, damaging the frescoes, but restored from 1762-70 by Zannoni. The roof was not replaced in simliar dcor, and is now a leather covered over 116 valut ribs of wooden beams.
The large wooden horse, probably 20 feet in height, was first donated to Ragione in 1837 by CApodilista family. It is said to have been built for a joust in 1466, done by Rinaldi to replicate the GAttemelata horse at Piazza SAnto, done by him.
The frescoes are of astrological cycles and zodiac symbols, divided into 12 parts for each month of the year. it is incredible to imagine all the work that has gone into continually preserving these frescoes in order to present in current day.

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The main feature is the frescoe walls done by Giotto from 1303-05. It depicts the sotires of Mary, Jesus through his life and the Judgment. The paintings are ringing around the chapel and on three levels for each theme. Above the main door is painting of the Last Judgment. Most have been restored to bring out the color of the paintings. This era led the way into the Renaissance period and new revival of art.
The chapel was built by Enrico Scrovegni to try and absolve the sins of his family for usury by his father, Reginaldo, who reportedly was the sinner in religious eyes. The land was a Roman arena and some columns are still out in the grounds. The building was in neglect for years and the portico and facade collapsed, adn the palace of Enrico destroyed. The Wiegand foundation sponsored restoration and the re-opening was in 2005. Besides the chapel, there is an adjacent and absolutely fabulous museum area (where you get tickets) with a video show of the chapel and history. There are also many archeological items and antiques from the Roman era. This was as impressive as the chapel itself
Entry fee is 12 Euro, or we got a Padova pass for many sites for 15 Euro. You need reservations ahead to purchase tickets and time slot allocated. We got reservations and ticket for Padova card on line, easily. then pick up at ticket office. You are to be on site 1 hour before entering. There are only 25 allowed to visit for each 15 minute interlude, and all need a 15 minute detox to cleanse yourself before entering. A good movie is presented in the waiting room

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I made reservations while in Florence to see the frescos painted in the Scrovegni Chapel.
You must have reservations to see the chapel to be allowed inside and you must pick up your tickets at least 1 hour before your assigned time.

The chapel is in an outstanding state of preservation and you can easily see the frescos which have recently undergone a multi-million dollar restoration to remove centuries of dirt and soot to reveal the original colors used by Giotto over 700 years ago.

Once admitted (you are assigned a time), you sit in a hermetically sealed, air-conditioned room for 10 mins. to watch a brief film covering the history of the chapel.
After the film, you walk into the chapel and are only allowed to be inside for about 10 mins. before you are made to leave.
Photography inside is NOT permitted to help preserve the frescos.

Giotto painted the frescos in the chapel from 1303 to 1305 and they are considered to be the birth of modern painting techniques.
The chapel was built in 1300 by Enrico degli Scrovegni whose father was put in hell in Dante's "Divine Comedy" for usurery (money lending). Enrico can be seen in the "Last Judgement" fresco offering the chapel to the Virgin Mary.

The frescoes in the chapel follow three main themes, in three levels:
1) episodes in the lives of Joachim and Anna (Mary's parents)
2) episodes in the Virgin Mary's life
3) episodes recounting Christ's life and death
The lower parts of the walls contain a series of frescoes illustrating Vices and Virtues in allegory.

The frescos are still powerful and moving to see. The colors, play of space and visual imagery overwhelms but comforts you as you move around the chapel.
To miss the chance to see one of the best perserved masterpieces of Western art is a foolish thing to do.

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In the very center of Padova there are this huge buiding. It have been built starting on 1218.
The upper part is a only huge room, with an amazing wooden roof structure and some outstandig frescoes. It was originary used as the town court, in a corner you can still find a pedestal where comdemned people had to stand to be expose at the public shame.
Inside it is hosted a giant statue of a horse made of wood. This horse was one of several big statues part of a parade in the XV century. It is the only one saved.
The room is often used by the city hall for exhibit of various kind.
The lower part of the building host the traditional food market of Padova, there are cheese, meat and fish stand plus some caffe and bread shop. Go look in my shopping tips for more about this.

Founded on VI century it was an important monastery until Napoleon supressed it in 1810. Now the monastery is reopened. It is held by Benedectine monks and famous for the books restoring workshops they have. The same order of monk also take care of the Abbazia di Praglia, about 15 km outside Padova in Teolo directions. I have a tip about this too in the Off the beated path section.
It houses some saints tombs and paintings.
There are a historical library opened to people.

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The bigger square in Padova and one of widest in Europe.
This square have a round island in the midle, surrounded by a canal. There ae four bridges to walk through. The canal is decorated with a double ring of huge statues, 78 at all, representing famous people. The island is all green planted with nice tree.
The municipality use this place to organize events, there is fireworks on new year eve and on 15 August. But it is just a very nice place to go for a walk, enjoy the green and have a coffee or an ice cream.
During Saturday there are a huge market where you can find clothes, shoes, flowers and plants.
Try to go at night, it is a excellent place to take picture, the statues are all lighted up and make wonderful reflections in the canal in the center of the square.

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Walking out of the old city through the ancient Roman gate of Porta Molino you find yourself crossing the Bacchiglione river on the Ponte Molino. This is a segmented arch bridge also dating from Roman times. It survives along with three others in the city. The Ponte Molino, however, sports sublime views of pastel shaded mediterranean houses tracking down the riverside.