Hello people!
A new trip to remember, those wonderful times. An intense year in a unique and special city. An Italian city full of history and amazing and beautiful places, is the city of Padua or Padova, in Italian. It is one of the most beautiful, beloved and visited cities in the Veneto region, also home to one of the oldest universities in the world.
And we are going to quickly see some of the most important icons of the city, although I have left out many others...
Prato della Valle (square)
And without wasting time, we go to the most spectacular place of all, my favorite. To the largest square in Europe, after the Red Square in Moscow (which I also visited and shared here in another post). But let's visit now this wonderful and amazing square.
It has a small island in the center (Isola Memmia) surrounded by a canal that is flanked by many statues, primarily they are relevant historical figures such as: Dante, Petrarch, Titus Livius, etc. and many more.
People love to sit on the edge of the canal to read or sunbathe, or you can also cross one of its four bridges in the large oval square and go to the central part.
Or you can also walk around the entire perimeter, but it will take us a while, a very pleasant while because the views are also lovely. On the other hand we will see the Abbey of Santa Giustina, which we will see closer later, it is much more beautiful inside than outside, since on the outside it is large and imposing but sober. Perhaps it is appropriately sober so as not to compete with the square itself.
And we continue enjoying an immense space where many events are held as well, for example a large open-air market on Saturday mornings, and more things.
It is beautiful at any time of day, and even in any weather. And also together with the rest of the elegant, classic and beautiful buildings that surround it in the distance. A different space that we love.
BONUS: Prato della Valle & snow!
As I was saying, this wonderful place remains so even at night, and with snow! It takes on a different charm, we walk on a white blanket that gives it a magical air. Suddenly everything seems like a fairy tale, real, Italian, beautiful.
Abbazia Santa Giustina (abbey)
And very close to the square we have already seen this great abbey which surprises us a lot when we enter, although we could not take photos... We stayed looking at the domes also from afar while we continued the route.
Basilica di Sant'Antonio di Padova
Not far from the main square, along one of the streets we immediately see another very busy church, there are always a lot of people around, because it is important.
It is the Basilica of the Saint, as they call it here. Of Saint Anthony of Padua, and it is also advisable to go in and see, among other things, some of his remains, such as his tongue (half fossilized) inside a glass jar, they say it is his... and also beautiful decorations eh.
Streets and canals
We should see more monuments and beautiful buildings, but the old streets in the city centre are also charming. Because on the way there we also cross canals of the Brenta River that runs through the city below and heads towards Venice.
And we are delighted at every moment, looking at all sides, at all the facades decorated with plants and flowers, at all the exquisite architectural details, at the elegant decorations.
It seems like a scene out of this time, we have traveled to another era of the past where they built wonderful and charming buildings.
Palazzo della Ragione (palace)
We arrive at another square, there are several famous ones, although smaller ones. In Piazza delle Erbe (square), where one day per week there is a food open air market, we discover another sumptuous ancient building. An elongated palace with interesting frescoes inside. And in the open lower part there are market stalls, selling food and top quality Italian products. It is a joy for all the senses to walk through there.
La Specola (tower)
And we take you to the historical and scientific part of the university city. A tower where important figures, such as Copernicus, observe the skies, all in a magnificent and charming setting.
Università degli Studi di Padova (university)
We are finishing our quick walk through a vibrant, historic and interesting place. Copernicus studied there, and other famous people studied there too, including Leonardo Da Vinci. The wooden lectern where he did so is still preserved and can be visited.
These are classrooms with a lot of history, you can see the walls full of coats of arms, inscriptions and other decorations. An important place, where the first autopsy in the world was performed, you can also visit this room with an opening where they threw the body into the river if they were discovered. Everything here is fascinating.
And the lucky ones who finish their studies there have to go outside, dressed up, surrounded by family and friends who sing, read a long rhyming text about themselves, which can be embarrassing, but ultimately liberating and fun. The rest of us see many of these scenes around this area, making the classic, museum-like, historic, elegant, perfect, beautiful and charming city also a very vibrant, curious, interesting and alive place. There is life, history and beauty. And we love Padua, it was a wonderful year that I will always carry in my heart.
Grazie Padova bella.
