The city is picturesque, with a dense network of arcaded streets opening into large communal piazze, and many bridges crossing the various branches of the Bacchiglione, which once surrounded the ancient walls like a moat.
Confession: we didn’t enter a single museum, art gallery or even church. Main reason was, most things were closed. We arrived on Sunday. We left on Tuesday and everything was closed on Monday.
But Padua is entertaining enough in itself. Stately squares, grand statues (lots), canals and restaurants, restaurants and some pizza places. Add to this a young, lively and stylish population. These are the ingredients for a strolling, eating and people watching kind of a visit. The biggest danger is getting run over by a bike. They’re everywhere, going in every direction.
The market is in the ground floor of the the Palazzo della Ragione, It is reputed to have the largest roof unsupported by columns in Europe; the hall is nearly rectangular, its length 81.5 m (267.39 ft), its breadth 27 m (88.58 ft), and its height 24 m (78.74 ft); the walls are covered with allegorical frescoes.
The market was partially open on Monday, but there was sufficient activity to appreciate the atmosphere. Small stalls and shops were offering all kinds of local produce, too varied to list. We had a coffee in the tiny bar jostling with some very odd characters.
One of the best known symbols of Padua is the Prato della Valle, a 90,000 m2 elliptical square. This is one of the biggest in Europe. In the centre is a wide garden surrounded by a ditch, which is lined by 78 statues portraying famous citizens. We didn’t recognise anyone.
We stayed in a hotel opposite the most famous of the Paduan churches the Basilica di Sant’Antonio da Padova.
This contains the tongue of St Anthony. No further comment on that. We popped in to see whether they were looking after it properly but couldn’t get in owing to a service. The photo is of the welcoming security guard at the door.
What we didn’t realise is that our hotel is used by groups of pilgrims from all over. That’s fine: but the late night camp fire singing wore a bit thin. One singing nun is enough for me!