Padua: history, universities and UNESCO heritage
Padua is a Venetian capital located in the eastern part of the Po Valley, in the Bacchiglione basin. The city combines a history that dates back to the ancient Venetians, one of the longest-standing universities in Europe and two UNESCO awards linked to the science and art of the fourteenth century.
History and identity
According to legend, Padua was founded by the Trojan prince Antenor, but the area was inhabited by the Venetians as early as the 13th century BC. Having become Patavium, in the 1st century it was the richest city in Italy after Rome. In the fourteenth century, the Carraresi lordship made it a center of pre-humanism, from which the Padua Renaissance developed between the fourteenth and fifteenth centuries.
What to see
Padua has two UNESCO sites: the Botanical Garden, considered the oldest in the world, and the 14th century fresco cycles preserved in eight complexes, including the Scrovegni Chapel. The university, founded in 1222, adds to the itinerary the history of one of the oldest universities in the world.
Understand the place
To visit Padua, plan a trip that includes exploring the Botanical Garden and Renaissance art, and visit the city's historical landmarks. Verify current access before visiting.
Where to stay
A hotel in the center makes it easier to travel on foot between the frescoed complexes, the botanical garden and the university spaces. If you arrive by car or want to explore the Euganean Hills and the plain, compare access, parking and connections before booking.
Prepare the visit
Times, access conditions and transportation may change. Before the trip, check the official pages linked from the source, protect the heritage and leave the entrances to the homes free. Source in local language.