Padua (Italian: Padova, Venetian: Pàdova) is a city in north eastern Italy, and the capital of the province of the same name. It is located centrally in the Veneto region, between Venice on one side and Vicenza and Verona on the other. The city itself has 210,821 inhabitants (2001), with about 350,000 inhabitants in the wider metropolitan area.
Padua is a central railway node in the Veneto area. Many lines converge into the city central station, notably from:
All kinds of trains pass through Padua: Eurostar, InterCity, EuroCity, InterRegionale, Regionale, InterCityNight, EuroNight, Espresso. More info is available on the Trenitalia website .
However, three international airports are conveniently located nearby:
Other options further afield include:
Padova is connected through the national highway network
Many national/regional roads originate in or pass through the city:
Discovering the city on foot is very easy. The historic center is not very big, so you can go around in the narrow streets.
Padua, luckily, is quite a flat city. Apart from the few roman bridges and some -not very steep- streets, you will not find any hills to hike! Especially in the city center, most of the streets are narrow and quiet and the terrain is sometimes made of pavé or cobblestones. In some areas, the cobbling is such that it would be unsuitable for standard road bicycles. Outside the narrow streets, a bike lane is sometimes available. In the near Riviera del Brenta you can hire bikes at local shops, with free delivery services at your hotel, for make excursions in Padova region.
APS Mobilità (dead link: January 2023) (ex-ACAP, call center: +39 049 20111) runs the only tramway line of the city, based on the rubber-tired TransLohr vehicle.
The line SIR1, entered service with passengers on March, 24th 2007. The route is Stazione F.S. (Piazzale Stazione) - Trieste - Eremitani - Ponti Romani - Tito Livio - Santo - Prato della Valle - Cavalletto DX - Diaz - Santa Croce - Cavallotti - Bassanello - Sacchetti/Assunta - Cuoco - Guizza - Capolinea Sud.
This line is very useful for tourists because it stops near various monuments, museums and local landmarks like Santo Basilica, Eremitani Civic Museums, Cappella degli Scrovegni, Prato della Valle, Santa Giustina Basilica, Botanic Garden, central squares. (The stops for each of these are in bold above.)
The line is northbound-southbound, travel time 22 minutes from terminus to terminus. The tram runs every 8 minutes during weekdays daytime, 10 at early evening, 30 at late evening, every 20–15 minutes on Sundays from 7.07 till 0.20.
APS Mobilità (dead link: January 2023) (ex-ACAP, call center: +39 049 20111) runs a network of local transport that covers the main areas of the city as well as some suburbs.
Many lines run on the two main axes in the centre: North-South and east–west. Many of them terminate at the train station, which is also the main node of the bus network. Apart from the tramway, the most frequent are lines 10 and 3.
Fares: See here for an up-to-date list of prices: APS (dead link: January 2023)
Getting around by car in the city center can be very difficult. During peak hours traffic jams are frequent. And if you want to see the city center, apart from the narrow streets and pedestrian zones, a traffic limited zone has been established from 8AM till 8PM and cameras on several entrance points control the access: those who are not authorized will get a fine. It is useful to park your car in one of several parking lots or on the park areas on the streets, then take a bus or walk from there. More info can be found (in Italian) on APSParcheggi website.
The Padua Card allows you to visit most churches and all museums as well as to use the public transport for €16.
Santa Giustina Basilica is along one side of Prato della Valle. When you visit, don't miss the Martyr's Hallway off of the right-front corner of the basilica.
Roman ruins, including an Arena. The Arena is smaller and less impressive than those in Verona or Rome, but well-located in a lovely and well-maintained park. About three quarters of the Arena walls remain; the rest were removed to make way for the Scrovegni Chapel and Scrovegni Palace (the latter now long gone). In summertime, open-air movies are shown in the Arena.
Chiesa Eremitani, 45.410566°, 11.879788°. The church with an unusual wooden ceiling was badly damaged in WWII, and much of its artwork was destroyed, but what remains is beautiful.
The Duomo, or cathedral, is smaller than the two basilicas but not by much - don't be misled by the relatively small façade on Piazza del Duomo. Michaelangelo was involved in the cathedral's design. Inside, there are some surprisingly modern touches among the statues and artwork. The duomo is mostly known for its baptistry which is filled with frescoes in late medieval style.
Next door to the cathedral is the Baptistry, with impressive frescos by Giotto.
Astronomic Observatory (La Specola), 5, Vicolo dell'Osservatorio (bus n° 12 or 18, stop "Via P. Paoli", turn to via S. Alberto Magno to reach the Specola tower), 45.401972°, 11.868415°, +39 0498759840, museo.laspecola@pd.astro.it. Sa-Su 11.00-16.00 (18.00 May-Oct). Although the observatory was built after Galileo's time in Padua, you'll learn a lot about his significance for the research in Padua. You reach the top of the tower after a lecture of about one hour and can enjoy the view. Tickets at the Oratorio S. Michele, Piazzetta S. Michele, 1: 50 meters from the Specola, through the arcade on the right before the little bridge.
Palazzo della Ragione, 45.407222°, 11.875278°. The large building located between Piazza della Frutta and Piazza delle Erbe. Its ground floor hosts small market shops. The upper floor is a single large hall housing artwork and occasional exhibitions.
Jewish Ghetto. Characterized by narrow streets and many small art galleries and bars where to enjoy a "spritz".
Palazzo del Bo', The main university building. Padua's university is the second oldest in Italy (founded 1222). Galileo taught at the university in the late 1500s/early 1600s, 45.40684°, 11.87754°.
Botanic Garden (Orto botanico di Padova), 45.398889°, 11.880556°. The world's oldest still operating botanic garden, operated by the University of Padua, and on the UNESCO World Heritage list since 1997. It isn't a large garden, but subtly laid out to swallow groups of people and give the impression of solitude. Do not miss the carnivorous plants, or the wooded hill at the southeast corner mounted by a double helix pair of paths. Admission ranges from free (for some university students) to €1 (for other university students) to €4-5 for everyone else.
Most of the City walls of Padua have been made into the borders of people's back yards, but you can still roughly follow their route. At the northern gates leading towards the train station is a terraced garden leading up to the old water tower.
If you have extra time before your bus or train, visit Tempio Antonio della Pace, the large brick church a few minutes' walk away. The interior is light and airy - very appropriate for a place dedicated to Peace - and the walls are a subtle but moving memorial to the 5401 WWI soldiers and 989 civilian victims of WWII who are buried there.
In 2021, Padua got another entry on the UNESCO World Heritage List; named Padua's fourteenth-century fresco cycles. It's made up of the Scrovegni Chapel Church of the Eremitani, the Palazzo de la Ragione Chapel of the Cararesi Palace Cathedral Baptistery, the Basilica and Monastery of St. Anthony Oratory of St. George and the Oratory of St. Michael, or more specifically, the beautiful frescoes these building house.
The Rolling Pin Cooking School - hands-on cooking classes in the center of Padua, about the art of Italian Gastronomy and Cooking.
Padua has two major markets. The older, much larger market fills the Piazza delle Erbe and Piazza della Frutta, lying to the north and south of a grand, arcaded stone building, the Palazzo della Ragione. The open passages of the Palazzo house the butchers, cheese vendors, fishmongers, and fresh pasta shops. The Piazza delle Erbe to the south is mostly fruits and vegetables; the Piazza dei Frutti to the north is about half fruits and vegetables and half bric-à-brac and clothing. These markets are open all day every weekday plus Saturday.
On Saturdays, the Prato della Valle is filled with a giant market selling clothing, household goods, plants, and antiques. A small fruit and vegetable market has opened weekday mornings as well, though it is incomparably smaller than the offerings at the Palazzo della Ragione.
The old stone streets and piazzas to the southeast of the Piazza delle Erbe are pedestrianized and form the shopping center of the town.
Pizzeria Al Duomo, Via S.G. Barbarigo 18. Great-tasting pizzas that are enormous even by Italian standards. Quality is high, prices are low (pizza and wine €10-15), and the atmosphere is great. For something different, try one of their "green" pizzas.
Pago Pago, Via Galileo Galilei 59 (near the Basilica - one block over and around the corner.). They have the usual range of pastas, meat/fish dishes, pizzas, etc. If you've overdosed on Italian food and want something lighter, try one of their salads. Great atmosphere and reasonable prices (salad, drink, and coffee under €15).
Cucina Chef Chadi, Via S. Francesco 214 (right behind the basilica: keep the building to your right and walk until the corner at the end of the street.). closed 2-4.30PM and after 8PM. If you want to avoid junk food and taste some genuine Italian flavours, choose something from this clean and healthy take-away: freshly cooked vegetables, meat, fish and pasta are displayed everyday, and served by the cook himself. Try his paella or just let him suggest the speciality of the day. A convenient place to stop by if you want to have a wide choice, or you are travelling with your children. Good service and convenient prices (lunch menu €6-15).
Ai Talli, Via Boccalerie 5 (on a side street off of Piazza della Frutta.). They specialize in Calabrian dishes - from the southern tip of Italy - and use only authentic ingredients. Be sure to check out the daily specials, or just stop in for a spritz if you're not quite hungry yet. Affordable prices for a central location (spritz, two courses, and wine about €20). Has tables on the corner of the Piazza when the weather is nice, i.e., most of the time.
Oktoberfest, Via del Santo 80 (100m from Basillica di Sant' Antonio). A salad, two very big pizzas and half a litre of prosseco for €28 (10 Dec 2009). Spacious and full of locals (and graduating students singing "Dottore, dottore...") €15.
La Lanterna, Piazza dei Signori 39. 12:00-14:30, 18:00-24:00. Pizza is baked on wooden kiln. Salata mista, two pizzas and half litre prosseco €28 (Dec 2009). €15
Birrolandia, Via Nazareth 11 (Near hospital (500 mt) and close to Croce Verde). 12:00 - 15:00, 19:00 - 02:00. Probably the best Pub in Padua, with a huge choice of beers and sandwiches. 5 different draft beers and more than 30 bottled beers. Very pleasant atmosphere. 0.5l draft beer costs 4-5€, 1€ less than in the city centre.
{{eat | name=Il Re del Kebab | alt= | url=http://www.ilredelkebab.com/ (dead link: December 2020) | email= | address=Via Belzoni 127 | lat= | long= | directions=Near to Porta Portello | phone=+39 049774447 | tollfree= | fax= | hours=12:00 - 15:30, 18:00 - 23:30 | price=3/10 € | content=Very good and cheap kebab and pizzas. One of the best felafel in town, and maybe one of the very few where to find home made humus and baba ganoush. Only take away. }}
{{eat | name=Ristorante la Finestra | alt= | url=http://www.ristorantefinestra.it/ (dead link: December 2020) | email= | address= | lat= | long= | directions= | phone=+39 049650313 | tollfree= | fax= | hours= | price= | content=Via Dei Tadi 15. 19.30-22.30. The Restaurant is in one most beautiful streets of the centre, a few steps from the Duomo. The menu changes frequently according to the change of season and availability of fresh produce, check out the section "food stuff" to see some of our most famous dishes. Restaurant owners Carlo & Helene have over 20 years experience in the restaurant business: Carlo as chef and Helene as floor manager, in Italy, Europe and USA. €35-60. }}
Re Porco Osteria, Via S. Pietro,47-35139, +39 049 876 12 89, reporco@yahoo.it. The food is wonderful, particularly the baccala in 3 consistenze (which is cod fish cooked three ways - €11); the pasticcio del porco (lasagna with free range pork - €10), which is very light; and the costoletta di agnello (lamb with a breadcrumb coating - €13). For dessert, the millefoglie con spuma chantilly e coulis di ciliegie (a light confection with cherries) is a good choice. The wine list is very interesting and Marco, the owner, does not push the most expensive bottles. Instead, he recommends local wines that suit the meal. Almost everything is made in-house, including the bread and desserts. Most of the customers are locals. Marco speaks very good English and translates the menu patiently. $
For a light lunch, stop into any cafe for tramezzini - small sandwiches that come with a variety of fillings, and are usually cheap.
Pizza Shop, Via Giambattista Morgagni, 48/B (At the corner with via Altinate), +39 049 875 1648. Very small take away pizzeria in the city centre, near the University. Cheap and very good. Margherita 3€, more elaborate pizzas cost 4 to 6€. On work days from October to May is full of students and you may have to wait a bit, especially at lunch time.
2nd-order administrative division
Primary administrative division