Hotel Casa Del Pellegrino
Padova - Via Melchiorre Cesarotti 21
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Who knows why Padua has never cared to become a tourist star. Could it be because Venice is too close and steals its thunder? Or perhaps because the many companies in the area, the prestigious university and a state-of-the-art hospital already bring so many people to the city?
Don’t wait until you have to come to Padua for work, study or, worse, illness: better to visit this exciting city in the Veneto because you want to. Finding a reason to dream of a weekend in Padua is not difficult, and when you start doing your research on what to see and do you will begin to consider whether you should take a whole holiday here.
Art is the easiest and most immediate draw as Padua is home to priceless masterpieces such as the chapel frescoed by Giotto, the treasures of the Basilica del Santo and a wealth of museums.
But city life is perhaps the most appealing attraction. Mingle with the Paduans in their daily comings and goings and you will discover the popular soul of the city in its markets and in the unmissable evening ritual of the spritz (the true Veneto aperitif), the goliardic soul of the students in the noisy graduation parties that result in bizarre rituals, and the snobbish soul of the designer boutiques and Caffè Pedrocchi.
Very easy to reach by car, train, bus and plane and to get around on foot or by bike, full of events all year round, much less expensive than the more emblazoned tourist destinations, Padua is the ideal destination for a surprising and affordable holiday. Really, why haven’t you come yet?
Padua is a cultured, rich and devout city: you will easily realise this when you visit its most famous attractions. It is also a fun-loving city, which after so many hours of work takes a well-deserved break at spritz time.
Between culture and good life, there are many things to see in Padua, here are the most interesting ones.
The top attraction in Padua is the Scrovegni Chapel, wonderfully frescoed by Giotto. With this pictorial cycle, the 14th-century artist reached the highest level of his work, creating what is unanimously considered one of the absolute masterpieces of western art. It is undeniable: a visit to the Scrovegni Chapel alone is worth a visit to Padua.
The small 14th-century church was a private chapel of the wealthy local Scrovegni family; it was frescoed between 1303 and 1305. The wall frescoes depict scenes from the life of Jesus and the Virgin, while the counter façade is decorated with a magnificent fresco depicting the Last Judgement. You don’t have to be an art connoisseur to be overwhelmed by the drama, expressive power and riot of colour of these extraordinary paintings.
Caution though! In order to preserve the precious paintings, a system of timed visits has been set up, which must be booked in advance. Since this is a very famous attraction, it is strongly recommended to book your visit as early as possible so as not to risk a sell-out.
Padua is an important European pilgrimage destination, and it is no coincidence that the most visited attraction after the Scrovegni Chapel is the majestic Basilica of St. Anthony (or simply ‘The Saint‘, as the Paduans call it).
The church houses the relics of St Anthony of Padua. The monk was actually originally from Lisbon but died in 1231 in Arcella, a district close to the centre of Padua, and became the city’s patron saint. The procession on 13 June, the day of his death, attracts thousands and thousands of worshippers from all over Europe.
Built in the first half of the 13th century, the church dedicated to him is an enormous basilica with a complex structure that blends Romanesque, Gothic and Byzantine elements and has no less than eight domes, two bell towers, four cloisters, a library and numerous chapels. The interior houses valuable medieval works of art and the tomb of the saint.
In the square in front of the church is a bronze equestrian statue that you will not be hard to notice despite the crowds of pilgrims and the stalls selling sacred objects: it is a work by Donatello depicting Gattamelata, leader of the Venetian Republic.
Another great pride of Padua is the Prato della Valle, the second largest square in Europe after Red Square in Moscow. Its official name is Isola Memmia, but for the Paduans it is simply ‘il Prato’.
It is a square with an unusual appearance. The central core is a huge tree-lined lawn of elliptical shape crossed by two perpendicular paths with a fountain in the centre; around the lawn runs an artificial canal whose banks are decorated with a double ring of statues depicting historical figures, and around the canal is a large pedestrian area.
The Lawn is a popular meeting place for Paduans, who come here to cool off, chat, eat an ice cream, run or skate. It is often used for events (including some with international appeal) and is the finishing point of the Padua Marathon.
Every Saturday a lively market is held in the space around the canal, a tradition much loved by the locals. It is perfect for cheap shopping; for quality shopping, however, better the shops in the centre.
About a 10-15 minute walk from the Prato della Valle are three piazzas, ‘the squares’ of Padua par excellence, which represent the hub of city life: Piazza delle Erbe4, Piazza della Frutta5 and Piazza dei Signori6, connected by pedestrian or vehicular roads, by a passage known as ‘canton dee busie’ and by the galleries of the so-called Sottosalone.
The squares are overlooked by some of the city’s most important palaces and monuments: the magnificent Palazzo della Ragione, one side of Moroni Palace (seat of the town hall), the Clock Tower, the Loggia della Gran Guardia and a fountain where recent graduates used to bathe in a goliardic ritual that is now forbidden.
During the day, the squares are enlivened by fruit and vegetable and clothing stalls; in the late afternoon, the space left vacant by the street vendors is occupied by the small tables of the bars: it is here that students and workers converge at the end of a hard day’s work to celebrate the ritual of the aperitif and indulge in a bit of healthy conviviality.
Among the historical palaces in the centre of Padua, the primacy of grandeur and charm undoubtedly belongs to the magnificent Palazzo della Ragione, built in the 13th century to house the city courts and the covered market; in 1306 the characteristic roof in the shape of an inverted ship’s hull was added.
The upper floor (Salone) is occupied by a single gigantic hall, one of the largest hanging rooms in the world, now used for exhibitions and events; inside you can see a huge wooden horse and a Foucalt pendulum.
A guided tour during the day is strongly recommended; however, it is also worth coming back at night to admire the illuminated palace: it is a spectacular sight.
The ground floor of the Palazzo della Ragione is occupied by the Sottosalone, two galleries housing a series of shops that continue the medieval tradition of the indoor market. You can buy everything: horse meat, mountain cheeses, vegan tapas, fresh fish, fine wines, craft beers, handmade pasta, chocolate, children’s clothes, natural cosmetics and more.
Shopping at Sottosalone is a real tradition: take advantage of it to buy typical products to taste on the spot or take home as souvenirs.
The second oldest university in Italy was founded in Padua. From the 16th century the official seat of the university became Bò Palace, a complex building whose original core dates back to the 13th century; it overlooks the very central Via 8 Febbraio.
The guided tour of the Bò allows you to enter the Teatro Anatomico, a very special room with a sinister charm. It is the first example in the world of a classroom created specifically for teaching human anatomy through the dissection of corpses: from the wooden balconies that look out amphitheatrically towards a table placed below, students could watch real autopsies.
Another famous attraction of the Bò in Padua is the chair of Galileo Galilei: the famous scientist taught at the University of Padua from 1592-1610. The splendid Aula Magna, now used for official ceremonies, the Sala dei Quaranta and the inner courtyards are also part of the tour.
Among the many works of art you can admire on the tour is a statue of Elena Cornaro Piscopia, the world’s first female graduate
The Caffè Pedrocchi in Padua bears no comparison to the famous Caffè Florian in Venice or the historic cafés in Vienna. Like these famous examples, it boasts elegant rooms steeped in history, once a meeting place for intellectuals and enlightened nobles. Among them, one cannot fail to mention the Sala Bianca (White Hall), beloved by Stendthal and mentioned in one of his most famous books.
Even today, the Pedrocchi is a fashionable salon, but nowadays it is more usual to show off designer clothes than culture. If you want to set a tone, or if you want to treat yourself to an exclusive experience, sit down at the tables of this refined café, be prepared to pay more than a few euros for a cup and enjoy the house speciality: it is called Caffè Pedrocchi like the venue and is an invigorating 100% Arabica espresso with mint and fresh cream and a dash of bitter cocoa. It is served in a cappuccino cup, but without a spoon because it should not be sweetened.
Tired of the hectic hustle and bustle of the city centre? Take refuge at the Botanical Garden, an oasis of greenery and peace a stone’s throw from the Santo.
Founded in 1545 by the University of Padua with the aim of preserving medicinal plants, it is one of the oldest botanical gardens in the world. Over the centuries it was enriched with all kinds of plants from all over the world and today has 3500 different species; in 1997 it was declared a Unesco World Heritage Site and has recently been extended with huge modern greenhouses.
It can be visited independently or by guided tours. During the year, there is no shortage of special openings on the occasion of events and anniversaries.
The Padua City Museums are a complex of four thematic museum sites, two of which are in the cloisters of the former Convento degli Eremitani12 (one dedicated to medieval and modern art, the other to archaeological finds) and one in the nearby Zuckermann Palace13. The fourth venue is the famous Scrovegni Chapel.
With a single ticket you can admire objects from the daily life of the first Venetian populations in prehistoric times, the rich collection of art and coins belonging to the merchant Nicola Bottacin, valuable furniture in use in Padua between the Middle Ages and the 19th century, and much more.
Visiting the top must-see attractions in Padua that we have presented above will keep you busy for more than a day. If you want to stay even longer, you will not be bored because there are other interesting things to see.
Step out of the Scrovegni Chapel and take a look at the Church of the Eremitani, which is right next door, after which stay inside the Arena Gardens to rest in the cool air or have a drink at the kiosks.
Two other religious buildings in Padua that are worth a visit are the Duomo and the Basilica of Santa Giustina. The former overlooks the square of the same name and is famous for its splendid baptistery; the latter is located next to Prato della Valle. For the more devout, we also recommend the Sanctuary of Father Leopold Mandić (proclaimed a saint in 1983) in Santa Croce.
The list of museums in Padua is really long. In addition to the already mentioned City Museums, there are some very special thematic museums in the centre or in the immediate vicinity. Among them there is one suitable for all ages: the Museo del Precinema – Collezione Minici Zotti, which exhibits magic lanterns and other optical games that led to the invention of the cinema: it is a small, well-kept and very atmospheric museum that will take you on a journey back in time steeped in romanticism and nostalgia.
Other thematic museums in Padua worth mentioning are the Museum of Jewish Padua, the very modern MUSME – Museum of the History of Medicine, the National Centre of Photography and the Museum of the Risorgimento and Contemporary Age.
There is not much contemporary architecture in the centre of Padua. The only interesting work is the Memory and Light Monument created by internationally renowned architect Daniel Libeskind to commemorate the victims of the 11 September 2001 attack in New York.
Curiosity: why Padua is called ‘the city… without’?
A famous saying defines Padua as ‘the city of the saint without a name, the meadow without grass and the café without doors‘.
The first clearly refers to the Basilica of St Anthony, which everyone in the city calls ‘The Saint’. The second reference is to the Prato della Valle, which despite its name was not covered with grass in the past. The third clearly refers to Caffè Pedrocchi, but there is disagreement on the reason: for some it is linked to a historical period when the café remained open day and night; for others to the founder Antonio Pedrocchi’s desire to make it accessible to all citizens. Even today there is still a room available to anyone who wants to sit down without the obligation to consume.
In the following map you can see the location of the main places of interest mentioned in this article.
Padua is an excellent base for exploring the Veneto. From here on a day trip you can easily visit the very popular Venice and Verona and the two lesser-known jewels Vicenza and Treviso: they are all reachable in an hour or less by train (only 30 minutes for Venice!).
The resorts of Peschiera del Garda and Desenzano are on the railway line to Milan, so they too can be easily reached by those who want to treat themselves to a relaxing day by the lake. With a little more organisation you can also visit the beautiful mountains of the Dolomites or dive into the Adriatic Sea in a day.
People who come to Padua for tourism are a minority compared to those who pass through for work, study or medical appointments. Consequently, hotels in Padua cater mainly to this influx of people staying for a night or so.
There are many 4-star hotels designed for business travellers, concentrated in the trade fair area or near the industrial zone. They are unattractive but consider them if you want comfort and modernity, parking, easy access by car.
Another option for those travelling by car and who do not want to stress about finding parking in the centre are the b&bs in the suburbs or, better still, in the neighbouring municipalities. Staying a stone’s throw from the city, you can enjoy the beauty and silence of the Veneto countryside.
The area around the hospital is the best place to look for cheap, simple but functional hotels. From here you can walk to all the main tourist attractions.
Accommodation in the centre is the best for those travelling by public transport and includes proposals for all budgets: you can find family-run hotels, luxury hotels, holiday flats, charming b&b’s and budget accommodation such as a hostel and pilgrim’s house.
Getting to Padua is very easy, both by car and by public transport, because the city is strategically located and is a crossroads of road and rail connections.
In fact, it is located along two of Italy’s main motorways: the A4 Turin-Trieste crosses the entire Po Valley, while the A13 feeds into the A14 Bologna-Taranto, making it possible to travel from Padua to Bari along the entire eastern side of the peninsula.
The same fortunate situation also applies to trains: the Padua station is located along the Venice-Milan, Venice-Bari and Venice-Rome railway lines, served by regional, Intercity and high-speed trains (both Trenitalia and Italo). There are also many long-distance buses that pass through Padua to important Italian and European cities.
Padua does not have an airport, but there are three within an hour’s drive or less (Venice, Verona and Treviso) and they are all served by low-cost flights departing from many Italian cities and are easily reached by bus or affordable transfer services.
What's the weather at Padua? Below are the temperatures and the weather forecast at Padua for the next few days.
When you think you can no longer stand the hustle and bustle of people in the centre of Padua, just move 10 km south to find a wonderful oasis of greenery and peace. These are the Euganean Hills, a series of low hills of volcanic origin with a characteristic cone shape and covered with woods and vineyards.
Enchanting villages, villas, gardens, churches and paths are hidden among these hills: don’t miss Arquà Petrarca, the Catajo Castle and Praglia Abbey.
The area is also known as Terme Euganee due to the presence of waters and muds with curative properties. It is the most important spa resort in Europe: it has more than 100 establishments and 200 heated pools with natural hot water, mostly concentrated in Abano and Montegrotto Terme.
The province of Padua is also home to some of the most beautiful walled towns in the Veneto. These include Cittadella, Montagnana, Este and Monselice.
Another attraction not to be missed in the province of Padua is Villa Contarini in Piazzola sul Brenta, one of the largest and best-preserved villas in Veneto.
Padua is a provincial capital city located in the central Veneto plain, between Verona and Venice. It is about 35 km from the centre of Venice and 90 km from Verona; Bologna is 110 km away and Milan 250 km. South of the city, about 10-15 km from the centre, are the Euganean Hills, the only hills in the province.
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