Padua

HISTORY: Some people say that Padua is the oldest city in northern Italy, with a history of more than 3000 years, founded in 1183 BC by a Trojan prince, Antenor. From the 5th century BC, until the 6th century AD, Padua was an important center of the Veneti people, being in turn part of the Roman Republic, and under the domination of the Huns, the Goths and the Lombards. From 1405, Padua was under the rule of Republic of Venice and, after the fall of Venice, in 1797, it was ceded to the Austrian Empire. In 1866, the city was included in the Kingdom of Italy.

GEOGRAPHY: Today, Padua is one of the most important cities in the Veneto region, standing at about 40 kilometers west of Venice, 29 kilometers southeast of Vicenza, 79 kilometers east of Verona and about 125 kilometers north of Bologna.

TRANSPORT: You can get to Padua by plane, arriving at Marco Polo Airport, in Mestre, at Antonio Canova Airport, near Treviso, or at Valerio Catullo Airport, in Verona. The city is accessible by train, being a central railway node in the Veneto region. A train ticket from Venice costs 4.25€ and the trip takes about half an hour, while a ticket from Verona costs 7.30€ and the trip takes almost an hour.

LANDMARKS: Padua is known for its university, founded in 1222, for the oldest botanical garden in the world, opened in 1545, and for being the birthplace of the architect Andrea Palladio. The main attractions in Padua are the Scrovegni Chapel, known for containing a beautiful fresco cycle by Giotto, the Palazzo della Ragione, known for having the largest roof unsupported by columns in Europe, the wonderful squares Prato della Valle and Piazza dei Signori, and the Basilica of Saint Anthony of Padua.

MORE INFO: Official Website | Venice Airport | Treviso Airport | Verona Airport | Train Schedule | Bus & Tram Schedule | Hotels in Padua