If you are looking for things to do in Padua, you will not be disappointed by this charming city in northern Italy. Padua is rich in history, culture and art, and offers a variety of attractions for every taste. Whether you want to admire the frescoes of Giotto, visit the Basilica of Saint Anthony, or stroll along the Prato della Valle, you will find plenty of options for your itinerary. In this article, we will introduce you to some of the best tourist attractions in Padua and give you some tips on how to make the most of your visit. Here are some of the things to do in Padua that you should not miss.
Looking for things to do in Padua? Discover the best tourist attractions in Padua:
1. **Scrovegni Chapel**: A masterpiece of Italian art with stunning frescoes by Giotto.
2. **Basilica of St. Anthony**: A magnificent shrine of one of the most revered saints in the world, with artworks by Donatello and others.
3. **Padua Botanical Garden**: The world’s oldest academic garden, founded in 1545, with rare and exotic plants.
4. **Prato della Valle**: One of the largest and most beautiful squares in Europe, with a central island surrounded by statues and a canal.
5. **Palazzo Bo**: The historic seat of the University of Padua, where Galileo taught and where you can see the oldest anatomy theater in the world.
6. **Musme**: A modern and interactive museum of medicine and health, housed in a former hospital.
7. **Baptistery of the Cathedral**: A splendid example of Romanesque architecture, with a dome covered with frescoes by Giusto de’ Menabuoi.
8. **Piazza dei Signori**: A lively and elegant square in the heart of the city, with a clock tower and a statue of Dante Alighieri.
9. **Orto Botanico di Padova**: A UNESCO World Heritage Site, this is the world’s oldest academic botanical garden, founded in 1545. It contains rare and exotic plants from all over the world.
10. **Centro Storico di Padova**: The historic center of Padua, full of charm and culture, with narrow streets, arcades, churches, palaces, and monuments.
11. **Basilica di Santa Giustina**: A majestic basilica that houses the relics of several saints, including St. Luke the Evangelist and St. Matthew the Apostle.
12. **Piazza delle Erbe**: A picturesque square with a daily market, surrounded by historic buildings such as the Palazzo della Ragione and the Torre degli Anziani.
13. **Palazzo della Ragione**: A stunning medieval palace that served as the seat of justice and commerce, with a large hall decorated with frescoes and a wooden horse sculpture.
14. **Caffè Pedrocchi**: A historic and elegant café that was a meeting place for intellectuals and patriots in the 19th century, with a museum and a secret room.
15. **Museo Civico di Padova**: A rich and varied museum that displays artworks from different periods and styles, including paintings by Giotto, Mantegna, Tiepolo, and Canova.
16. **Chiesa degli Eremitani**: A Gothic church that contains frescoes by Mantegna and other artists, as well as the tombs of some famous Paduans.
17. **Specola**: An astronomical observatory that dates back to 1767, where you can see ancient instruments and enjoy a panoramic view of the city.
18. **Museo del Risorgimento e dell’Età Contemporanea**: A museum that traces the history of Padua from the Napoleonic era to the present day, with documents, memorabilia, and multimedia exhibits.
19. **Chiesa di San Gaetano**: A Baroque church that features a beautiful dome, a rich interior, and paintings by Veronese and other artists.
20. **Museo Diocesano di Padova**: A museum that showcases religious art from the 12th to the 20th century, including sculptures, paintings, tapestries, and liturgical objects.
21. **Ponte di San Lorenzo**: An ancient Roman bridge that crosses the Bacchiglione river, one of the oldest in Italy.
22. **Chiesa di Santa Sofia**: A Romanesque church that is one of the oldest in Padua, with a simple façade and a crypt with frescoes.
23. **Museo Antoniano**: A museum that displays the history and culture of the Basilica of St. Anthony, with relics, artworks, and manuscripts.
24. **Chiesa di San Nicolò**: A Gothic church that contains a wooden crucifix by Donatello and a painting by Tintoretto, as well as a cloister and a bell tower.
25. **Museo della Ceramica di Padova**: A museum that exhibits ceramic works from various periods and regions, including ancient Greece, Rome, China, and Japan.
26. **Chiesa di San Francesco Grande**: A Gothic church that was the first Franciscan foundation in Padua, with a sober interior and a cloister with frescoes.
27. **Museo Etnografico del Salento**: A museum that explores the traditions and customs of the Salento region, with costumes, tools, crafts, and musical instruments.
28. **Chiesa di Santa Maria dei Servi**: A Gothic church that features a rose window, a portal with sculptures, and paintings by Guariento and others.
29. **Museo del Precinema**: A museum that displays the history and evolution of cinema, with optical devices, lanterns, cameras, and posters.
30. **Chiesa di San Michele**: A Romanesque church that dates back to the 11th century, with a façade decorated with arches and sculptures.
31. **Museo della Navigazione Fluviale di Battaglia Terme**: A museum that illustrates the history and techniques of river navigation in the Veneto region, with models, maps, and artifacts.
32. **Chiesa di Sant’Andrea**: A Renaissance church that contains a painting by Mantegna and a tomb by Canova, as well as a cloister and a garden.
33. **Museo Geologico e Paleontologico di Padova**: A museum that exhibits fossils, minerals, rocks, and meteorites from different eras and places.
34. **Chiesa di San Giorgio**: A Romanesque church that features a bell tower with a spire, a portal with sculptures, and frescoes by Altichiero.
35. **Museo del Vetro di Padova**: A museum that showcases glass works from various periods and styles, including Roman, Venetian, Murano, and contemporary.
36. **Chiesa di San Clemente**: A Baroque church that contains paintings by Tiepolo and others, as well as an organ and a choir loft.
37. **Museo della Scuola e del Libro per l’Infanzia**: A museum that displays the history and evolution of education and children’s literature in Italy, with books, toys, games, and school materials.
38. **Chiesa di Santa Lucia**: A Gothic church that features a rose window, a portal with sculptures, and paintings by Guariento and others.
39. **Museo del Santo**: A museum that displays the history and culture of the Basilica of St. Anthony, with relics, artworks, and manuscripts.
40. **Chiesa di San Daniele**: A Romanesque church that dates back to the 11th century, with a façade decorated with arches and sculptures.
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