About
Padua, known in Italian as Padova, is a historic university city in the Veneto region of northern Italy. It is a place for a slow, attentive visit, where the pleasures lie in its old streets, its churches and its long academic tradition.
What to see
- Giotto's frescoes decorate the interior of the Scrovegni Chapel, one of the city's best-known sights. They are worth giving time to, as the images are the reason many visitors come.
- The Basilica of Saint Anthony is a major church and a centre of pilgrimage, with a distinctive skyline of domes that stands out across the city.
Around the city
Padua's university is among the oldest in Europe, and its presence gives the historic centre a lively, studious character. Walking between the churches, squares and arcades is a natural way to spend a day, and the city works well as a stop between larger Italian destinations in the Veneto.
Visitors who enjoy art and architecture will find Padua a rewarding base. Those interested in religious heritage will appreciate the basilica and the wider pilgrimage tradition around it. Allow a little extra time for the frescoes, and for simply wandering the streets at your own pace.
