DAY 5° Padua

Padua has a great artistic and cultural tradition and counts among the most important art cities in Italy. From the bus station following Corso del Popolo, you reach the remains of the ancient ROMAN AREA surrounded by the public gardens. Next to the Arena are three art jewels: the SCROVEGNI CHAPEL , which keeps a beautiful fresco cycle by Giotto, the EREMITANI CHURCH , with frescoes by Mantenga, and the EREMITANI CIVIC MUSEUM , which keeps works of art from the XII to the XIX century.

Not far away is the pedestrian area, where stands the ancient Caffè Pedrocchi, historical meeting place of the nearby University students, faced by the University main palace Palazzo del Bo, one of the most ancient university seats in Italy (founded in 1222) where you can still admire the ANATOMICAL THEATER (1594) and Galileo Galilei’s chair. From the University follow Via S. Canziano to Piazza delle Erbe and Piazza della Frutta, seats of a picturesque daily market. The two squares are dominated by the imposing PALAZZO DELLA RAGIONE or “Salone” (ancient Law Palace), built in 1218.

Not far away is Piazza dei Signori, where once stood the Carrara Seigneury Palace. Here you can admire the CLOCK TOWER (1437) and the LOGGIA DELLA GRAN GUARDIA. From here follow Via Monte di Pietà to Piazza Duomo, where stands the CATHEDRAL (16th cent) with its ancient BAPTISTERY dating to the 12th century and completely frescoed by Giusto de’ Menabuoi in the second half of the 14th century.

Go back to the University and follow Via S. Francesco to the Tomb of Antenore, the founder of Padua, as the legend goes. From here take Via del Santo to the worldwide famous BASILIC OF ST. ANTONIO, erected in 1232 immediately after the Saint’s death. Inside the basilica there are important ancient and contemporary works of art from the 13th century to the present days.

In front of the Basilica stands the equestrian statue of the “Gattamelata”, a masterpiece by Donatello. At Piazza del Santo you can also see the ANTONIANO MUSEUM , the Oratory of St. Gorge and the Scuola del Santo, which keep numerous works of art, including frescoes by Titian. From Piazza del Santo followVia dell’Orto Botanico to the BOTANICAL GARDEN, the most ancient universitari botanical garden in the world. Following Via dell’Orto botanico and then Via Brioso you reach Prato della Valle, an outstanding elliptical square surrounded by a canal and decorated by 78 statues of illustrious Paduan citizens.
On the south-eastern corner of Prato della Valle stands the imposing BASILIC OF ST. GIUSTINA, which keeps the body of St. Luke. A ten-minute-walk leads to the Sanctuary of  St. Leopoldo Mandic’, which keeps the remains and the confessional cell of St. Leopoldo.