20 THINGS TO SEE AND DO IN PADUA

Although Padua is not one of the most tourist cities in Italy, it houses lots of attractions. We tell you 20 things to see and do in Padua.

Padua He has reserved a great place in our little heart, and that is where we met a few years ago. Diooos, how old we are. In addition to being a perfect place to do Erasmus and form couples of different nationalities, Padua is famous for hosting one of the most beloved (and beautiful) churches in all of Italy. And look there are a few! Also by its University, founded in the year 1222, it is the second oldest in Italy (the first is that of Bologna). Do you sound like something Galileo Galilei and Nicoló Copernico? Well, here they studied, you see that not only ours were the only brilliant minds that passed through this city.

But that's not all: in this post we tell you 20 things to see and do in Padua.

1. One of the most precious treasures of Padua (yes, even more than the spritz) is the famous Capella degli Scrovegni. Its exterior is quite sober, but inside there are some wonderful frescoes, neither more nor less than Giotto's masterpiece. (Admission: € 13).

2. Padua is one of the cities with more students from all over Italy and many of them graduate in the impressivePalazzo del Bo. You can meet thanks to a guided tour of 45 minutes that passes through different rooms, through the anatomical theater and that allows you to tell you some curiosities. The tour costs € 7 and is only available in Italian and English. More information.

3. In the Palacio del Bo there is a statue very peculiar: that of Elena Lucrezia Cornaro Piscopia. Your name may not sound like anything to you ... but it was nothing more and nothing less than the first titled woman in the world.

4. Italy is a paradise for coffee lovers, if you are in that group write this name: Pedrocchi coffee. It is beautiful (and expensive, advised you stay). They say that if you enter before finishing your studies, you will not get a degree.

5. 99% of people who come to Padua do so to visit the Basilica of San Antonio And you know what? The most beloved and famous Saint of Padova ... is not from Padova! In fact, he is not even Italian: he was born in Lisbon!

Basilica of San Antonio de Padua

6. In front of the Basilica of San Antonio, is the Gattamelata Statue, work of Donatello. One of the first equestrian and most important statues of the Italian Renaissance.

7. As of May, the Piovego river bank (near the Portello area) becomes one of the liveliest places in the city, especially at night. I keep great memories of those white sangria with my friends. (There are also other nights of which I don't remember anything).

8. A curious place to get lost wandering (and that personally seems super interesting) is the area of Jewish ghetto. Here there is also a wide range of restaurants, so it is a good stop to eat.

9. If there is a place, beyond the Basilica of the Saint, which you have to see yes or yes in Padua, it is Prato della Valle... one of the largest and most beautiful squares in all of Europe. Around the oval-shaped pit, 78 statues of illustrious characters linked to the city are placed. Do not miss the buildings surrounding the square, there are some like the Loggia Amulea, which are absolutely beautiful.

10. The saturdays takes place on weekly market, precisely in Prato della Valle, where you can go hunting for bargains and where there is a lot of atmosphere.

Prato della Valle, padua

11. Cerquita de Prato della Valle is the Church of Santa Giustina, not as impressive as the Basilica del Santo, but very pretty.

12. If you like them Botanical Gardens, you have to get close to that of Padua: It is the second oldest in the world. Or so they told me. Yes, I was 3 years living here and I never went to visit him. Shame, shame, shame!

13. If you are lucky (especially if you go through Padua in January / February or in June / July), you may run into some laurea celebration (the university degree). According to tradition, the friends of the newly graduated prepare a papyrus, which consists of a sheet where, with rhymes, they tell the story of his life. Obviously including shameful and horny details. It is quite a show !!

14. Speaking of ice cream, in Padua there are a few very rich ice cream parlors. We advise you to try Ciokkolatte, in Piazza dei Signori, which won several awards. The ice cream shop Gromm It is also great.

15. If Prato della Valle is undoubtedly the largest square in Padua, the Piazza dei Signori It is perhaps the most flirtatious of all. In a way it reminds of nearby Venice. There stands theTorre dell'Orologio, with his famous astronomical clock, a project by Jacopo Dondi from 1344 and which is the oldest in the world with these characteristics.

Piazza dei Signori, in Padua

16. One of the most special places for us is Piazza delle Erbe (Herbs Square). In it, on Wednesday nights Padua students usually meet to take one (or a few) spritz. But beware, we also recommend you see it during the day, along with the nearby Piazza della Frutta, especially if, like us, you love fruit and vegetable markets.

17. What is spritz? Ohhh, my friend, spritz is one of the most beloved drinks by Italians. Although eye: ask Spritz Aperol, which carries sparkling water, prosecco (a dry white wine similar to cava) and Aperol (an orange liqueur). If you ask Spritz When dry, they will most likely give you a glass of white or red wine with sparkling water. That is much less cool.

18. Between the two places is the Palazzo della Regione, one of the most emblematic and majestic buildings of the historic center where they often organize exhibitions.

19. One of the most beautiful streets in Padua is the via San Francesco. We recommend you to travel it without hurry. Via Altinate Y Via Zabarella They also deserve a visit, especially if you feel like doing some shopping (or eating a good ice cream hehe).

20. La Specola, not too far from the center, it is a very interesting visit. Although this tower seems taken from a Game of Thrones chapter, it was an astronomical observatory, one of the most important of the time, where great scientists such as Galileo passed.

Tower of La Specola, in Padua

That said, Padua is a perfect day trip from one of its neighboring cities like Venice or Verona. We encourage you to visit it. Do you know more things to see and do in Padua? Leave us a comment ...

* Photocredit: Shutterstock

Video: Padua, Italy, travel in the Old Town (April 2024).