Padua is a city of art and one of the major centres in Northern Italy.
According to an old legend, the city was founded by the Homeric hero Antenore,
who had escaped the buring Troy.
During the 3rd Century, the ideally located city of Padua became a staunch ally
of Rome, thus gaining administrative autonomy from the Empire. As a result, the
city enjoyed a long period of peace that lead to a major urban reorganisation.
The marvellous buildings and bridges built in this period can still be admired
nowadays.
Today, reminders of its glorious past are at every turn. The most important buildings are indeed of Medieval date: the Basilica of St. Anthony (a site attracting pilgrims from all over the world); the Palazzo della Ragione;
and Giotto’s magnificent Scrovegni Chapel.
Points of interest:
- The Basilica of St. Anthony.
- The Scrovegni Chapel, frescoed by Giotto.
- The Duomo and its Baptistery, frescoed by Giusto de Menabuoi.
- The University of Padua, one of the major cultural institutions of the western
world.
- The botanic garden, dating 1545.
- The Eremitani Civic Museum.
- The Palazzo della Ragione.
- Prato della Valle.
- The Verdi Theatre.
- The historic Ghetto and the Synagogue.
- Piazza dei Signori.
- Piazza delle Erbe.
- Piazza della Frutta.
- Piazza Antenore.
- The Palazzo Zabarella.
- The Pedrocchi Café.
- The Basilica of St. Giustina.
The Euganean hills (today a Regional Park); Monselice; Este; Montagnana; Abano Terme; Montegrotto;
Arquà Petrarca; Strà; the Brenta Canal with its gorgeous villas.
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