Padova Travel Guide

 27 Reviews  Crikey...this 'square' (actually an ellipse) is huuuuuuuuge! In fact, it's supposed to be the second largest in europe...and I ca quite believe that it is. When we finally arrived at Prato della Valle we were both stunned by its size and, for that reason alone, it is well worth wending your way... 

 16 Reviews  In the very center of Padova there is this huge building. 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 used as the town court. There are several frescoes with animals shape figures that represent... 

 12 Reviews  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... 

 7 Reviews  This impressive doorway to the Bo University is cast in Bronze, which was seized from the enemy during WW1. It was the work of G. Qrsolini and G. Casanova, which was carried out between 1922 - 1923%c. The door bears the names of the University's students who died in the war I entered through... 

 5 Reviews  The Scrovegni Chapel is a small chapel in Padua whose interior walls are covered by beautiful frescoes painted by the artist Giotto in the 1300s. The frescoes cover the life of Jesus, his mother Mary, and her parents. Because the governement is concerned about potential deterioration of the... 

 6 Reviews  ....supposedly! You'll find this sarcophagus in Piazza Antenore (of course), opposite the rather lovely 15th-century Palazzo Sala and the Gothic Palazzo Romanin Jacur (which carries an inscription saying that Dante hid there to escape arrest. Antenor, a Trojan prince who features in Homer's 'The... 

 4 Reviews  Padova's Orto Botanico are really very special...they are the very first academic botanical gardens anywhere. For this reason they are listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site. The gardens were first planted in 1545 by the university's medical department as a collection of herbs and plants with... 

 5 Reviews  This chapel is a part of Padova City Museums (musei civici di Padova).It was built in 1300 by Enrico Scrovegni and it is dedicated to the blessed Virgin.Scrovegni wanted in that way to rest in peace his fathers soul who was mentioned by Dante in Canto XVII of the inferno as being a usurer.Giotto the... 

 3 Reviews  The Piazza dei Signori is a large square in the historic center of Padua that is full of outdoor cafes and restaurants. It is a pleasant place to have dinner at the end of a long day of sightseeing. The Piazza's most famous sight is the clocktower of the Cararra Palace, which looms over the square's... 

 4 Reviews  This building was designed by Giuseppe Japelli and houses the cafe/coffee house in the center of Padova. Part of its history is that when the Austrians ruled Padova, the students and citizens of Padova (1848) held a violent protest here. In a short time the Austrians left Padova. Caffe Pedrocchi has... 

 3 Reviews  The Loggia Amulea, also known as Ca' duddo Palazzo Zacco, is an beautiful example of the palace built in neo-Gothic style. It is one the most attractive palace on the Prato della Valle square. The Loggia Amulea takes its name from Cardinal Antonio da Mula or Amuleo, who previously owned a building,... 

 3 Reviews  This is the funeral chapel of the Lupi di Soragna family with an interior decorated with frescoes by Jacopo Avenzo, who painted them in 1378-84. These are among the most impressive examples of 14th century Italian painting. 

 2 Reviews  On the Piazza dei Signori, adjacent to the 15th century Grand Loggia, stands the Palazzo del Capitano. This was home to the city's Venetian rulers. It has a 16th century clock tower, and a intricately designed 14th century astronomical clock. 

 3 Reviews  You'll find this rather impressive structure in Piazza dei Signori. The 'clock tower' dates from the early fifteenth century (1400s), making it older than the one in Venice's Piazza San Marco. A column with the lion of St Mark stands in front of the tower. The astronomical clock is not the... 

 2 Reviews  The Piazza della Frutta is a market square in Padua's historic center. The vendors in the Piazza sell fruit, as well as clothing and other items. On the day that we were there, it was fairly slow, with less than half the square occupied by vendors. 

 2 Reviews  The triumphant Arco Valaresso is located in Piazza Duomo, next to the palace of the Monte di Pieta. It was built in 1632 by Giambattista della Scala in honour of Alvise Valaresso, captain and administrator of health of Padova, who had distinguished himself in an exceptional way in helping people... 

 4 Reviews  Just outside the ancient old town is the Basilica del Carmine, a church most interesting for its history of destruction. Most churches in Italy have taken damage from earthquakes at some time in their past, but Basilica del Carmine has been set on fire by an Austrian airplane, demolished by Allied... 

 1 Review  Next to the Cathedral lies the 'Battistero', built in the 12th century and maybe the most beautiful of Padua’s structures. Inside the Baptistery there are interesting Giusto de Menabuoi's frescoes (1376-1378).