PADOVA

 

 

Padova is a well-known city of 210.938 inhabitants in the North-East of Italy. Its foundation goes back to Antenore, a Trojan hero, whose grave was said to be on one of the squares; actually, according to researchers, that tomb belongs to a 3rd or 4th century warrior. During the Roman period and the Middle Ages Padova became an important economic, cultural and artistic center. Nowadays it is one of the most productive cities in northern Italy. There are a number of historical monuments that can be seen all over the city.

 


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  1. SIGHTSEEING
  2. WHAT TO VISIT AROUND PADOVA: REGIONAL PARK OF EUGANEAN HILLS
  3. IL LAGO DI GARDA
  4. THE DOLOMITES
  5. REFERENCES

 

SIGHTSEEING

 

-The University of Padua,founded in 1222, is the second oldest in Italy after Bologna. The main historic university building, Palazzo Bo, is mostly used today for graduation ceremonies. Originally, it housed the Faculty of Medicine, renowned throughout Europe. Here Elena Lucrezia Cornaro Piscopia was the first woman ever to graduate in 1678 - long before women were allowed to study at most other European universities. There is also the Anatomy Theatre, built in 1594, the world's oldest surviving medical lecture theatre.

 

 

-The Cappella degli Scrovegni, painted by Giotto between 1303 and 1305. The chapel is filled with marvellous frescoes of scenes from the life of Christ such as The Nativity, The Expulsion of the Merchants, The lament over the Dead Christ and The Last Judgment.

 

 

 

-Eremitani museums, a big museum complex standing near the Scrovegni Chapel and occupying a group of 14th-century monastic buildings attacched to the church of the Eremitani, a reclusive Augustinian order. It includes the Archaeology Museum, whose highlight is the temple-like tomb of the Volumni family dating from the 1st century AD, the Bottacin Museum, where coin collectors can find an almost complete set of Venetian coinage and some very rare examples of Roman mediallions and the Medieval and Modern Art Museum, which presents a collection of paintings from Giotto to the present day.

 

 

 

-The Palazzo della Ragione which has the biggest "sala pensile" in Europe. This palace, also known as the "salone", was built to serve as Padova's law court and council chamber in 1218. The hall was originally frescoed by the celebrated artist Giotto, but fire destroyed his work in 1420. The frescoes that survive today are by the relatively unknown Nicola Miretto.

 

 

 

 

-The Prato della Valle which is, despite its name (“prato” means lawn), the largest public square in Italy surrounded by many statues of people who played an important role in making Padua so famous. Its elliptical shape reflects the form of the Roman theatre that stood on the site.

 

 

 

-The Basilica of Sant'Antonio,which is an exotic-looking church, also known as "Il Santo". The high altar features Donatello's bronze reliefs on St. Anthony's miracles, as well as his bronze statues of the Virgin, the Crucifixion and several Paduan saints; however, it is not always possible for visitors to see them. In the North of the churchT here is access to St. Anthony's tomb, which is full of offerings and photos of people who have survived serious illnesses with the saint's help. Near the entrance to the basilica there stands Donatello's statue of Gattamelata, one of the great Renaissance works.

 

 

 

-The Caffè Pedrocchi, one of the oldest cafès in the world. It has long played an important role in the intellectual life of northern Italy: many problems have been discussed over the tables of this cafè since its doors first opened in 1831. It was the scene of revolts in 1848, for which several students were executed. Later it became famous as the cafè that never closed its doors. Now it's a fascinating place where people come to talk, read, eat and drink.

 

 

 

...and the markets in the historic center where you can buy anything.

 

Padova offers numerous exhibitions, currently in Eremitani Museum one can see Mantegna's exhibition.

 

WHAT TO VISIT AROUND PADOVA: REGIONAL PARK OF EUGANEAN HILLS

 

 

In the South-West of Padova there is the Regional park of Euganean Hills, established in 1989. It includes, totally or in part, 15 towns (Abano Terme, Arquà Petrarca, Baone, Battaglia Terme, Cervarese S. Croce, Cinto Euganeo, Este, Galzignano Terme, Lozzo Atestino, Monselice, Montegrotto Terme, Rovolon, Teolo, Torreglia, Vò) and covers a surface of about 18,702 hectares. Here you can find the highest hills of the Po plain (the highest hill is Mt. Venda and reaches 601 m). The particular location and volcanic origin, the always active human presence (whose signs are still present or can be seen in some museums), its natural landscape, environment, culture, and art make the Colli Euganei a unique territory.

 

PETRARCH'S HOUSE

 

Arquà Petrarca is a small medieval village near Padua. Its name comes from the Italian poet Francesco Petrarca who lived the final part of his life there. He died in 1374 CE. The house where he lived in Arquà is now a museum, which is worth visiting.

 

IL LAGO DI GARDA

 

Photo source: http://www.flickr.com

 

Il lago di Garda è un luogo ad alto potenziale turistico per le svariate opportunità offerte, sia dal punto di vista ludico che da quello culturale.

 

Al confine tra Veneto e Lombardia, è un lago di origine vulcanica sulle cui sponde vengono coltivati ulivi, limoni e aranceti. Il lago offre la possibilità di fare sci nautico e, d'estate, di prendere il sole sulle sue spiagge di sabbia finissima. C'è anche un servizio di battelli che con pochi euro fa fare il giro completo del lago per mezza o per l'intera giornata, con possibilità di pranzare in barca e di fare alcune fermate per visitare alcuni famosi paesini toccati.

 

Dal punto di vista ludico, oltre all'occasione di fare sport acquatici, nelle vicinanze c'è Gardaland, uno dei parchi giochi più grandi d'Italia, con diverse attrazioni e spettacoli che vanno dal pattinaggio alle acrobazie dei delfini, senza contare i fuochi d'artificio e il draghetto verde Prezzemolo per i bambini.

 

I paesi che vale la pena vedere sono davvero tanti, ma tra questi assolutamente un turista non più perdere:

 

-Sirmione, dove è d'obbligo la visita al castello del XIII sec. che dà direttamente sul lago e una visita alla città storica. Sirmione è anche una città termale dove si possono fare svariati trattamenti curativi, dai fanghi alle terme alle inalazioni di acqua. Per la città di sono diverse fontanelle dove si può bere acqua calda che arriva direttamente dal sottosuolo e dalle notorie capacità curative. Questa caratteristica termale ha attirato, nel passato, molti personaggi romani che hanno costruito ville e palazzi. Il più importante di questi è Catullo. Ancora oggi si possono visitare le cosiddette "Grotte di Catullo", il parco e, da poco tempo, il museo di Catullo che raccoglie tutti gli oggetti rinvenuti di epoca romana.

 

 

-San Martino, che raccoglie tracce della rinomata battaglia. Da non perdere la torre/museo che ricorda la battaglia del 24 giugno 1859, il cimitero in ricordo dei caduti della prima guerra mondiale e la chiesetta di fronte alla torre (molto particolare).

 

-Limone, definito, due anni fa, il paese più longevo d'Italia. Questo sembra dovuto all'olio che si produce lì e all'alimentazione a base di agrumi e pesce a basso contenuto di grassi. Qui oltre ad apprezzare la bellezza del paese, è d'obbligo un giro nei ristoranti della città dove il pesce è davvero ottimo (e sano).

 

THE DOLOMITES

 

Photo source: www.flickr.com

 

The DOLOMITES are mountains in the North of Italy. There the environment is completely different from other parts of Veneto where industrialization spread across the cities. In 1789 Dr Deodat Dolomieu analyzed for the first time the composition of the mountain range named after him.

Extensive areas of the Dolomites are now protected by law from development and are accessible only on foot.

 

One of the most beautiful routes anywhere in the Alps is the strada delle Dolomiti or "Dolomite Road". It starts at the Trentino-Alto Adige region from Bolzano and enters the Veneto region at the passo del Pordoi, at 2,239m, the most scenic of all the Dolomite passes. From here the route follows the winding S48 for another 35km east to the resort of Cortina d'Ampezzo.

On the route, there are many places where you can have a rest and enjoy spectacular views. In many of the ski resorts, cable cars can carry you up to alpine refuges, which often mark the start of signposted walks.

 

The most important stops at this route are:

 

-Passo del Pordoi;

 

-Arabba: a pleasant resort with a cable car to the Col Burz to the north;

 

-Pieve di Livinallongo: the main town of the scenic Cordevole valley that offers spectacular views of peaks and cliffs of the Dolomites;

 

-The ruined Castello di Andraz built in the 14th century;

 

-Falzarego where battles during World War I between Austria and Italy took place (1914-1918);

 

-Cortina d'Ampezzo: is one of Italy's top ski resorts, much favoured by the elite from Turin and Milan. There are many restaurants and bars, and the Olympic ice stadium that regularly holds discos at which people skate, and there are also several good swimming pools as well as tennis courts and riding facilities. During the summer months, Cortina becomes an excellent base for walkers

 

 

Photo source: http://www.flickr.com

 

 

 

REFERENCES

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  • Dorling Kindersley Travel Guides: Venice & the Veneto

 

 

 


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  • Recent comments:
    Erica...:I think your description of Caffè Pedrocchi is too short and doesn't provide enough information. For example, you shoul write something more about its structure and the fact that each room has a different colour, according to those different people who met there. Furthermore, why did you insert a link to "Nodi marinai"?
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