Below we take you to a sightseeing tour of the iconic views and monuments of Padova.
For a guide of things to see and do you can also check the official tourist site!
Palazzo del Bo
The Palazzo del Bo is the historical seat of University of Padua since 1493. It is also home to the oldest anatomical theatre in the world. We will offer a guided tour of the main sites (anatomical theatre, Galileo’s lectern, the old and new courtyards…) on Sunday.
Prato della Valle
Prato della Valle is a 90,000-square-meter elliptical square, the second largest square in Italy. Today, the square is a large space with a green island at the center, l’Isola Memmia, surrounded by a small canal bordered by two rings of statues. The church on one corner of the square is the basilica of Santa Giustina. Close to Prato della Valle is the Basilica of Sant’Antonio da Padova.
Palazzo della Ragione and the “Piazze”
The Palazzo della Ragione (also known as il Salone – “the big hall”) is a medieval market hall, town hall and palace of justice building built in 1219 and adopting its current form in 1440. The ground floor still hosts the historical covered market of the city. It is included in the UNESCO World Heritage Site inscribed as “Padua’s fourteenth-century fresco cycles”. It is at the heart of three large sqaures, collectively known as “le piazze“.
Cappella degli Scrovegni
Hosting one of the biggest fresco cycles by Giotto (UNESCO World Heritage Site), the small church was completed around 1305 and built on the land purchased by Enrico Scrovegni that abutted the site of a Roman arena.
Botanical gardens
Founded in June 1545 by the Venetian Republic,the “Orto Botanico” (an UNESCO heritage site) is the world’s oldest academic botanical garden that is still in its original location. On the side of the historical gardens, a new greenhouse has been built.
Torre della Specola
La Specola is a 14th-century tower, formerly part of a medieval castle, and converted in 1767 into an astronomical observatory (specula), now it hosts the astronomy department.
Caffè Pedrocchi
Caffè Pedrocchi is a café founded in the 18th century in central Padua, in close proximity to the university and the town hall. It shows eclectic architectural style by the architect Giuseppe Jappelli. It serves the iconic coffee with mint cream and cocoa powder.
Basilica di Sant’Antonio da Padova
The basilica, dedicated to Saint Anthony and hosting his tomb and relics, is known locally as “il Santo“. Construction of the Basilica began around 1232, one year after the death of St. Anthony, and was completed in 1310. Two chapels within the basilica – the Cappella di San Giacomo and the Cappella del Beato Luca Belludi – are part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site Padua’s fourteenth-century fresco cycles, and the church also hosts Donatello’s sculptures. In the piazza in front of the church, the monumental equestrian statue also by Donatello, “il Gattamelata”, is under renovation.
Porta Portello and the Psycology Department
The area of the main conference venue is the hystorical commercial harbour of the city (Portello means “small harbour”). Now it is one of the centers of student life and aperitivo in summer months.
