It happened at that moment I stood in this hall that I realized - we finally made it into this city. Padua, (in Italian Padova) that not-so-famous city in Italy, living in the shadow of Venice was on my bucket list for a while. Well, eleven years ago that I wanted to visit it, but when we had that travel planned, unexpected things happened (our car broke down in France and we couldn't continue our road trip that year). The other years we just avoided that city, if it would had been the culprit of that inconvenience that happened back in time.
But life brings new, unexpected experiences every day, the same as happened this year when we had to start our journey back to Spain. Those who already read some of my recent posts know that we got sick and had to delay our road trip. Our favourite hotel in Vicenza was full for the dates we could finally pass there, so we had to search for another accommodation. Why not try a different city this time? Oh, Padua is so close to the place we usually stay... That is how it happened, we booked here, the city that was planned so many years ago and has been avoided for the same years from then.
It was early afternoon when we arrived at our accommodation. My son and I went for a walk after we got back the needed energy with lunch in the hotel. As Padua was planned many years ago, I forgot what were the most important sights to visit here. Just one day before we arrived here I was still packing and really didn't have time to search again for what should not be missed out. I usually like to prepare for that part of the travel too, to know what to look for in the city. This time, our walk was just strolling around without an exact destination. Though, I knew I wanted to walk in the old, historic part of the town. One of the first things we had to do to reach the centre is to pass this small pedestrian bridge.
What was below this bridge?
A tiny river, maybe a canal that surrounds the old city centre. I know, it is not Venice, so don't expect gondoliers here. There were just some swans swimming in the calm water, but nothing else.
However, do expect to get lost in the streets of Padua. If you follow my post, you will be lost as I was. My son was telling me all the time: Mom, stop the navigation or put it to silent mode. It is ridiculous we have to be guided on a pedestrian route. But I wanted at least to know where we are heading, and what we have around. It didn't help a lot indeed as there were some passages (indicated on the map) that were closed at the time we wanted to pass, so new routes had to be searched for.
Basically, the streets looked all very similar one to another, old buildings with flat facades, with narrow but tall windows. Two, three or at most up to four floors. The ground floor was used for jewellery, clothing, wine, bank, bakery or souvenir shops. As it usually happens in the centres of older cities. The characteristic arches and passages in front of those shops still gave me an unmistakable feeling - we are in northern Italy.
One of those old passages with arches...
Imagine a scene, a musician or a sculptor, an artist passing here... maybe sounds too romantic, but who knows how many creative minds walked on these pavements and got great ideas about the next piece of art.
Speaking about arts... one of the buildings we came across was the Instituto Statale d'Arte Pietro Selvatico. Art School Pietro Selvatico.
Maybe those scenes with artists passing there and getting ideas are not just in my mind, but a reality. We all know very well that Italy represents the cradle of arts.
Walking a bit further, I saw a bit strange object. Not that strange, but it looked like a chest.
Well, according to the information from the board, it is a sarcophagus that we can see in this square, Piazza Antenore. We can go back to the beginning of the 13th century when a tomb was found and attributed to Trojan hero Antenore who founded Padua. However, seems that the remains in the sarcophagus don't belong to Antenore, but to a Hungarian warrior who died between the 3rd and 4th centuries AD. What a mystery!! I confess it makes the story about the sarcophagus more interesting.
Most about this story and the building that is behind can be seen on this same board. But I suppose one would need magnifying glasses to read it all :D
Strolling around already for some time, with questions about when we will make it until some bigger and nicer building to see, we heard some music. Following the sounds, we arrived at the place where this guitarist was playing.
He was ok, nothing special but a nice surprise. Also, there were more things to see, finally. He was playing in front of the University of Padua. The doors were closed, it was already afternoon, so you guess, no studies and lessons for us that day in Italy 😄
On the other side of the street, we saw a very nice building, that I had to search for later what it was. I found out the name of it, which is Palazzo Moroni. More about it I could not say now. But what was funny with this one is that it took me time to take a shot of the entire building. First I tried from the left side:
Then from the right side:
Seemed impossible to have a photo of it. Then I took out the phone from my pocket and it made a miracle. I have one picture of the building from the front of it.
A few steps further, a square with a historic building and a rock in front of it. What was the meaning of the rock, I have no clue. What I do know is that the square is called Piazzetta Cappellato Pedrocchi and in that stunning building there is a famous cafe - Cafe Pedrocchi.
The same rock from another angle (ok, to be honest, I was watching the building in front of the cafe, but happened that the rock wanted to enter again the photo...)
And once again, just a few steps further, we found ourselves in front of another amazing view - Palazzo della Ragione. With a square full of people and the impossible mission - to take a better photo of it. But that feeling was around all the time - we made it to Padua. Is it true, or it was just a dream?
Passing this door, Porta Altinate we continued the without-any-destination-stroll and got lost a few times in the streets. The navigation continued to offer me routes that were closed, so maybe we passed by the same places more than just once...
Streets and people, shops, and statues, we were still in the centre. Would be good to find the way back to our accommodation?
Would be, indeed, but I spotted one more place on the map I wanted to see. Basilica of Sant Antonio. It was getting already darker as the evening came without announcing it to us. A super short time was spent in front of this basilica originally built somewhere at the beginning of the 13th century. During all these centuries, different styles were added but it still stays as one of the most important buildings in this city. The interior could be spectacular, but it was closed and also we could not stay longer.
With the happy feeling that we made it and Padua can be checked on my list, we headed back to the hotel and for sure had a good rest. The very next day was again a day of driving and visiting another city/country.
