Visit Padua, Italy, one of the great art, pilgrimage, and university cities of northern Italy, in this episode of the Italian Masterpiece Series.
Often overshadowed by nearby Venice, Padua is home to one of the most important painted interiors in Western art: Giotto’s Scrovegni Chapel. We step beneath its extraordinary blue ceiling and explore the frescoes that helped transform European painting.
But Giotto is only the beginning.
We visit the Church of the Eremitani, where the young Andrea Mantegna created his remarkable frescoes before much of the chapel was destroyed during World War II. Then we walk through medieval Padua to the Palazzo della Ragione, Piazza delle Erbe, Piazza della Frutta, and the spectacular frescoed Baptistery of Padua Cathedral.
We also explore another side of Padua at the University of Padua, founded in 1222. Inside historic Palazzo Bo, we discover its famous anatomical theater, the years Galileo Galilei spent teaching here, and the story of Elena Cornaro Piscopia, the first woman known to receive a university degree.
And we stop at one of my favorite places in Padua, historic Caffè Pedrocchi, before continuing to the spiritual heart of the city.
At the magnificent Basilica of Saint Anthony, we visit the tomb of the saint Padua simply calls Il Santo, see works by Donatello, explore the peaceful cloisters, and talk about why this remains such a powerful pilgrimage destination even today.
Finally, we walk through Prato della Valle, visit the area around Santa Giustina, and look at Padua’s most important celebration, the Festa di Sant’Antonio on June 13.
If you are planning a trip to Padua, Venice, or the Veneto, this episode will help you discover why Padua deserves much more than a quick day trip.
Explore More of Padua
Padua has an entire chapter devoted to its history, sights, walking tours, restaurants, travel planning, and festivals in my Ultimate Festival and Travel Guide: Venice and the Veneto. https://amzn.to/48OhHfT
Chapter 11, FestaFusion Padua, also includes Padua’s major festivals and information for planning your visit.
My Italy travel guides are available on Amazon by searching Katerina Ferrara, or through my website at katerinaferrara.com.
See the Companion Blog
Visit katerinaferrara.com for the companion blog to this episode, with photographs of the Scrovegni Chapel, Basilica of Saint Anthony, Prato della Valle, Padua Baptistery, Caffè Pedrocchi, and the other places discussed in the episode.
And while you’re there, sign up for my monthly newsletter for new podcast episodes, Italian festivals, travel ideas, and updates from my Travel Italy guidebook series.
My Italy Travel Guides
Ultimate Festival and Travel Guide: Sicily
https://amzn.to/3KARdo8
Ultimate Festival and Travel Guide: Puglia
https://amzn.to/42WEnH1
Ultimate Festival and Travel Guide: Rome and Beyond
https://amzn.to/4gRlvz0
Ultimate Festival and Travel Guide: Venice and the Veneto
https://amzn.to/48OhHfT
Ultimate Festival and Travel Guide: Milan and Lombardy
https://a.co/d/0h0JFBhi
Ultimate Festival and Travel Guide: Umbria
https://amzn.to/4bRpcTj
Sicilia in Festa
https://amzn.to/4pUxBuP
Guida Chttps://amzn.to/44AIYQ1ompleta a Feste e Viaggi: Sicilia
In this episode: Padua Italy • Padova Italy • Scrovegni Chapel • Giotto • Saint Anthony of Padua • Basilica di Sant’Antonio • University of Padua • Palazzo Bo • Galileo Galilei • Andrea Mantegna • Donatello • Palazzo della Ragione • Padua Baptistery • Caffè Pedrocchi • Prato della Valle • Veneto travel • Italy travel
