Episode 65: Windows into Italy: Lets visit Padova in the Veneto

The Prato delle Valle, Il Prato the largest square in Europe!

Welcome to Episode #65:

The thing is Italy has so much to offer, twenty regions and each with something special and unique. I wanted to share all of the beautiful things about the city of Padova or Padua (English) in the Veneto and give you a dose of what is possible if visiting the Veneto, or Venice for instance….

Here is a window into the many reasons you need to go, and some of the history on this Northern Italy historical and cultural gem.

Piazza life is full of charm and possibilities in the city of Padua.  The only thing is there are so many great Caffes in the many piazzas, good luck choosing!

Described as the Sistine Chapel of Padua, The Frescoes of Giotto are a must see in the Cappella degli Scrovegni, in the Giardini dell'Arena,  Visit the Museo Civic of Padua in the Piazza Eremitani

Shownotes:

Visit: Padova Tourism Information

Markets in Padova: Piazza della Erbe and Piazza della Frutta for outdoor fruit and vegetables, and stores selling clothes, shoes, miscellaneous. The medieval Palazzo della Ragione is the place for the prized indoor market, you will not miss it as most regal building in the centre. This palace is in the middle of these two piazzas….Pallazzo della Ragione is the Medieval market hall, town hall, and justice building with 14th Century frescoes….. Now UNESCO World Heritage Listed….

Buy a ticket to see Giotto’s Frescoes in Piazza Eremitani: Cappella degli Scrovegni

Palazzo Bo - Padua University for the guided tour of the Anatomy Theatre on Via VIII Febbraio, Visit: Palazzo Bo

Visit the Medicinal Gardens on Via dell’Orto Botanico: Orto Botanico (where Monty Don the English gardener visited for the ‘Italian Gardens’ Series, a favourite of mine when I need a dose of Italy)

Have a great coffee and patisserie on or stop for ‘Aperitivo con Cicchetti’: Book ahead at Caffe Pedrocchi (And for the Galleria Risorgimento, housed in the same building)

Visit: St Anthony's Walking Tour

Book Reading about the Chapel in Padua from Susan Van Allen’s - 100 Places Every Woman Should Go

Visit Piazza del Santo for the Basilica of Saint Anthony

Float down the Brenta Canals from Venice to Padua to see the historic Venetian Villas from April - November Visit: River Cruises

See Lonely Planet’s Italy 2022 Guide for more options on Padua and private villa’s that are open to the public…..

You can also rent a bike to tour the Brenta Canals… Hire a Bicycle for the plains of the Canals

Italia Magazine for the Padua detail, June 2019 edition if interested…..

The new aperitif on the street thanks to the Gran Caffe Diemme and the drink is ‘Luxardo’, so look out for the Luxardo Spritz…I know I will try this next time. I love an excuse to go back again, that and the fresco cycle in the Palazzo del Ragione….

Visit: Luxardo Aperitivo

Visit La Pasticceria: Luigi Biasetto

Our family wandering along the canals in Padua while sightseeing on my first visit to the northern Italian gem of a city

The Torre dell Orologio in the Piazza dei Signori.  The circular blue motif is the wheel of the zodiac, referencing the twelve signs and the phases of the moon.  This astronomical clock is one of the oldest working clocks in the world. And of course the lion symbolic of the Venetian Republic as per the region of the Veneto

The beautiful streets in the Province of Padua

Pallazzo della Ragione on the right, a lively town with many regal open piazzas, and a great pedestrian city with many of the locals tinkering about on bicycles too...

The beautiful scene on the site of the Arena Chapel, what I am assuming is the old amphitheatre

Street art in the Centro Storico (historic centre)

The noble and historic Pedrocchi Cafe, so fabulous, don't forget to stop for their patisserie and chilled mint coffee....

Some of the wonderful produce in the Piazza della Erbe, the markets in Padova are some of the best in Italy, this was late March, 2022

Just across from the Basicilica of Santo Antonio

Music Composed by Richard Johnston

The beauty of this Aperol number is it’s low ABV so you don’t end up just floating away.   No less the Italians I love for their digestive bitters and the smarts to concoct a drink that literally opens your stomach readying it for digestion, hence “aperto” translating to open, and the cultural moment in the day where you stop for an Aperitivo, the pre dinner, or pre lunch drink, or with breakfast (if in Venice!!) to prepare your stomach for more.  Pure genius. Aperol and Luxardo are both Padovian landmark Aperitivo🍹🍹 

Goodbye Padova, See you next time....