We have been to Padova before, but many years ago so today was like finding a new place to love. It has a population of about 700,000 but you would not think so when you are in the historic centre.Padua is a really beautiful city with a peaceful aura.
We walked all day, our first stop being the Basilica di Santa Giustina. It is a 10th century Benedictine Abbey complex with the Basilica being opened in 1530. Outside it has that plain look of never having been finished, although there are some modern marble sculpures of the four Gospel writers and modern copper doors. It is huge inside with many large side chapels.
It is dedicated to Saint Guistina, a local 16 year old girl who refused to denounce her Christianity and died a martyr in 304 AD.
The tomb of Saint Luke the Evangelist has a prominent position in a transept to the left of the main altar.
From there we went to the Basilica di San Antonio of Padua. This is another huge religious complex, this one was a Franciscan Monastery. St. Anthony died in Padua in 1231and is one of the quickest to be canonised, in 1232. He has a huge world wide following and his patrononage covers a great range of people and needs. Even to non-Catholics he is known as the saint to whom you pray for lost things. 'St. Anthony, help me find my car keys'.
This side view of the Basilica was taken from the Botanic Gardens next door.
It seems that hundreds of school children are on travel excursions at present and we shuffled through the Basilica behind a large group, no photos are allowed and you cannot deviate from the path. Not a very satisfactory experience.
The St. Anthony memorabilia is a massive earner. He is always portrayed holding the child Jesus and a lily.
The Orto Botanico is fascinating and we spent about two and a half hours there. It is the oldest university botanical garden in the world. It has occupied the same original location since 1545, and it has a distinctive ground plan of a square within a circle.
It was originally set up to help university students with their studies and to recognise medicinal plants. Over the centuries this aim has been maintained and developed further, and it still belongs to the University of Padua
The outer garden area has many ancient and rare trees; an Eastern Plane Tree from1680, a Himalayan Cedar that was imported into Italy in1828 and a Ginkgo dating from 1750.
A decorative rock wall surrounds the circular garden and the inner beds and paths are laid out in stone.
Each specimen is labeled with its names, location and medicinal use.
The Biodiversity Garden was closed for maintenance but it has five sections - tropical, sub-tropical, temperate, Mediterranean and arid lands.
The 19th century glasshouses were not what we expected. They housed a mix of unusual plants but the carnivores were the most interesting.
From there we visited the Botanical Museum which had an impressive display of the work of the early directors, a lecture theatre and a laboratory. It is no surprise that the Orto Botanico is a UNESCO World Heritage site.
All this before lunch time! We headed to Piazza delle Erbe and Piazza dei Frutti as I had a couple of suggestions for lunch, but we couldn't find either place so we took the first table that we could find. Another porchetta panini for me.
These two piazzas are divided by the Palazzo dalla Ragione which, on the ground floor, houses an 800 year old market. It is also the town hall and the palace of justice.
How to paint (white wash) a house in Italy.
On the end of the Salone, as it is known by the locals, there is a balcony from which all proclamations have been announced since the 1200s.
On to the Piazza dei Signori where the Torre dell' Orologio houses a beautiful astronomical clock. The tower dates from the early 1400s. The piazza is lined with gorgeous palaces and stately homes.
Last stop for the day was the Duomo, or Cathedral. Built in Renaissance style and opened in 1582, it also suffers from never having the facade completed. One article described the Duomo as plain inside and out. This is a bit harsh as the interior is quite huge, well proportioned, light filled and even sleek.
This is the Baptistry, which we may get time to see later..
One surprise was the addition of modern sculpture by the Italian sculptor and painter Giuliano Vangi in 1997. There are several works to this set and all are meaningful and stunningly beautiful. I was so absorbed in looking that I only took one photo. San Prosdocimo and Santa Giustina. Luckily Kel took more so here are the ambo and the altar.
Walking home we crossed the canal ... we could have been in Venice.
To finish off a very interesting day we stopped for gelato ... as you do in Italy.
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