Gallery
Environs
PADUA AND SURROUNDINGS
Padua is a treasure of history and art. Just to start, in St. Anthony’s Basilica, people can admire the precious bronze statues by Donatello on top of the main altar and the beautiful 14th century cycle of frescoes painted by Altichiero in St James’s chapel. Every year, millions of pilgrims come to put their hand on the green marble stone of the Saint’s grave, committing all their prayers and thanks to him.
Besides “the Saint”, a great attraction of the town is the Scrovegni chapel as well, frescoed by Giotto in the XIII century, with the adjoining Chiesa degli Eremitani, influenced by the passage of the painter Andrea Mantegna. The Cathedral Baptistery with the rich paintings of Giusto de Menabuoi (1300). Highly interesting are even the elegant old town squares, little cosy open-sky “lounges”, such as Piazza delle Erbe, Piazza della Frutta and Piazza dei Signori, and the Palazzo della Ragione, with the imposing shipbottom-shaped roof. An important contribution Padua’s artistic treasures is given by the ancient University called “ Del Bo’ ”, the Botanical gardens, the astronomic observatory “La Specola”, the Civic Museum, Palazzo Moroni (town hall), the Caffè Pedrocchi, known as the “doorless” coffee shop. Last but not least, the impressive “Prato della Valle” square, with its 78 statues. A traditional story tells that every night, they leave their pedestals to “have a chat” strolling around the square!
Padua’s favourable geographical position allows visitors to reach one of the most beautiful towns in the world, Venice, in just 30 minutes by train!
The stay at the Hotel Casa del Pellegrino is a chance to have a deeper view of the whole Veneto region, with the wonderful cities of Verona, Vicenza, Treviso and many other historical and art treasures housed in various Villas along the Brenta river.
As last suggestion to visitors, the close-by Euganean Hills are also worth a trip, with their beautiful relaxing landscape, the Spas and the local wine and food tradition. The most interesting historical spots of the Euganean area are the village of Arquà Petrarca, where the famous poet lived, Este, Montagnana, Monselice. Remarkable are also the Villas and their gardens of Valsanzibio, Luvigliano, Villa Emo and the Catajo Castle.