"Padova" a Padova Travel Page by Willettsworld

Padova (or Padua) is an old university town with an illustrious academic history. It's a city of many attractions that are spread over quite a large area. The main area centres around Piazza dei Signori where you can find many wonderful buildings such as the Palazzo del Capitanio with it's astronomical clock dating from 1344 and the Loggia della Gran Guardia, once the house of the Council of Nobles. Next to the square is another square, Piazza della Frutta which has the Palazzo della Ragione down one side. This huge building dates from 1218 and contains the largest undivided medieval hall in Europe. Other important buildings in the area include the city's cathedral with it's 12th century baptistry next door that contains one of the most complete medieval fresco cycles in Italy.

The other large area where there are good attractions is the Prato della Valle which is a 22-acre park with an oval moat and central island which is reached by four bridges. To the south-east of this is the large basilica of St Justine with it's 8 domes. To the east of Prato della Valle lie the botanical gardens which are said to be one of the oldest in Europe dating from 1545. To the north of the gardens is probably Padova's most visited attraction: the basilica of St Anthony which was built in 1232 to house the remains of the saint.