Padova: "The greatest city of the Venetian terra firma..."

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We stayed in Padova on our first trip to Italy together, back in 2009, but we were there only a day and stayed near the train station. This time we rented an apartment on the Prato delle Valle, a big oval park at the edge of the historic center. The apartment was quiet, and well-appointed. We spent our time there walking around and traveling to near-by towns (Venice, Vicenza, and Castelfranco). Bill came down with a fever and cold, so I ended up going to Venice on my own.

I could run every day in Padova. I loved running past so much history! I also cooked all our meals while we were there...I was very tired of eating out.

Padova is a university town and full of students. Everyone, young and old, ride bicycles since many streets are closed to car traffic.

"The city is picturesque, with a dense network of arcaded streets opening into large communal piazze, and many bridges crossing the various branches of the Bacchiglione, which once surrounded the ancient walls like a moat. Padua claims to be the oldest city in northern Italy.

The University of Padua was founded in 1222 as a school of law and was one of the most prominent universities in early modern Europe. It is among the earliest universities of the world and the second oldest in Italy. The University of Padua is one of Italy’s leading universities and ranks in the first position in all the recent ranking of Italian large universities. In 2010 the university had approximately 65,000 students and in 2013 was ranked "best university" among Italian institutions of higher education with more than 40,000 students." Wikipedia

We took a short trip to Castelfranco, the best preserved walled city Italy (and the name means tax-free castle...kind of a free trade zone in the Middle Ages) when Bill was feeling better.

"The town originates from a castle built here by the commune of Treviso in the course of its strife against Padua (1195). In 1246 it was captured by Ezzelino IV da Romano, returning to Treviso after his death in 1259. In 1329 it was acquired by Cangrande I della Scala, lord of Verona. Ten years later, together with Treviso, it was handed over to the Republic of Venice, to which it belonged until 1797. Castelfranco then followed the history of Veneto." Wikipedia



The trip to Vicenza is in a separate blog coming next!

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Photos

Pratto della Valle
One of the best known symbols of Padua is the Prato della Valle, a 90,000 m2 (968,751.94 sq ft) elliptical square. This is one of the biggest in Europe. In the centre is a wide garden surrounded by a ditch, which is lined by 78 statues portraying famous citizens. It was created by Andrea Memmo in the late 18th century.

More stone faces
the lions are in front of the famous neo-classical Cafe Pedrocchi (1831)

Church sculpture Padova
St Luke's tomb

St Anthony's
The saint died here, and a church was built only a few years later. His relics (including his vocal chords..) are here.

Comments

[george]

Padua
Thanks. Good photos. Haven't been there. G