Regions of Italy

The immodest charm of Padua

BlogoItaliano has already dedicated a separate article to Padua, but we decided to return to this topic again. This small town has exceptional beauty and special charm. It is not as grand as Rome, and not as colorful as Venice. But with its thousand-year history, numerous cultural monuments and quiet character, Padua is able to charm even the most demanding tourist.

Padua is ancient Eternal Rome - it arose in the tenth century BC and soon from a poor fishing village turned into an important transport hub.

These places were inhabited by Venets, friendly to Rome, with whom they were good neighbors and allies. Thanks to military merit, Venets in the first century became full-fledged Roman citizens. But the sunset of the Roman Empire was already beginning, and in the fifth century it fell under the blows of the Visigoths.

Prato della Valle with statues of famous Padua

It was destroyed andPadua. Throughout history, the fate of the city was not easy. Like many other ancient cities of Italy, Padua was completely destroyed several times, but always, like the Phoenix, it rose from the ashes even more beautiful.

The era of a new heyday for the city came in the XII century, when it received self-government granted by the ruler of the Holy Roman Empire.

Many ancient basilicas and monuments recall the former greatness of Padua

In 1222 was opened University of Padua, which relatively quickly gained respect and recognition in medieval Europe. The significance of the university is already indicated by the fact that Copernicus taught and studied Galileo at the University of Padua.

Padua has developed and flourished. The image of the city was created by the best painters and sculptors of Italy: Giotto, Altikiero, Donatello, Mantegna and many others. The beneficial cultural influence of near Venice contributed to the creation of a rich cultural heritage in Padua.

Padua is compact and comfortable - its historical part can be circumvented in a day. But in this relatively small territory dozens of cultural attractions of a world scale are located. In the center of Padua there is a scattering of cozy squares, turning one into the other.

Cathedral Square with the majestic Cathedral. Piazza della Signori with the Palazzo, Market Squares of Herbs (Piazza delle Erbe) and Fruits (Piazza della Frutta), separated by the elegant Palazzo della Ragione.

Palazzo della Rajone is famous for one of the largest halls in Europe

Nearby are Cavour and Garibaldi Squares, the University of Padua, the magnificent Pedrocchi Cafe - one of the largest and most beautiful cafes in the world. Five minutes to the Scrovegni Chapel with brilliant frescoes by Giotto.

A little away from the center is a beautiful Prato della Valle (Prato della Valle). This area is considered one of the largest in Europe and so is not associated with the relatively small size of Padua itself. It is framed by a wonderful canal, decorated with dozens of statues of honored residents of the city.

Prato della Valle is a favorite place for celebrating the New Year, the day of the city and carnivals: thousands of people can easily accommodate here, and it offers amazing views of the nearby Piazza del Santo, where the Basilica of St. Anthony, the protector and patron of Padua, rises.

Padua is cozy and homely.

The basilica is almost eight centuries old and several architectural styles intertwined in it: Gothic, Baroque, Byzantine motifs. Unusual look and monumentality Basilica of St. Anthony fascinate, and the paintings of the famous painter Altikiero give the decoration of the temple a spirit of originality.

In the Piazza del Santo there is an equestrian statue of the Venetian condottier Gattamelata created by Donatello, and the house in which he lived. Behind the Basilica of St. Anthony is the oldest Botanical Garden in Padua on the planet - it was founded in 1545 and is considered the prototype of all the botanical gardens of the world.

But not only cultural monuments make up the image of Padua. Many old streets and canals, cozy cafes and cheerful Italians - the magical atmosphere inherent in Padua, in harmony of all components.

By the way, in 2018, BlogoItaliano rented a very unusual house in Padua. It impressed us so much that we made a separate video about it. By the way, if you have not subscribed to our Youtube channel, we recommend you do it right now. It has a lot of useful videos for everyone who is preparing for a trip to Italy.

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Photos by Mintegui, blogoitaliano

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