A day trip to Padua or Padova
If you are in the Veneto for a little while consider a visit to Padua or as the locals call it Padova, even in the rain. Yes, it rains around here in early spring... a lot. Take the train from Venice to Padova or if you live nearby, drive to Castelfranco or Bassano del Grappa, leave your vehicle in the car park in Castelfranco (it's free) and take the train. In Bassano, parking is more of a challenge.
Parking in Padova is really bad (and expensive) even on Saturdays. Grab the tram from the station (1 Euro) down to the Basilica of St. Antony (you can't miss it). Take a tour through this place, then walk back through town to the train station, it's not that far. I'd recommend you take an earlier train from Castelfranco or you will run into a 'timing problem' typical of Italy. You get to a place about 10am, tour a few things, grab an early (noonish) lunch, enjoy the wine and food and then when you walk out (note the Italians are just walking in) all the shops are closed and in Padua and you really want to take a look at the shops... a few are open (like Nautica, but you can see this in the US) but all the others will be closed until 3:30pm. Of course, you could leave, take the train back and arrive just in time for the shops to open in Castelfranco, but that defeats the purpose of your day in Padova.
Make sure you walk through the University of Padova, or visit the area. Galileo and Copernicus taught here and Galileo is reported to have said that it was the best 18 years of his life. Founded in 1222 it's worth a look even if it's integrated into the city like most European universities, it's fun to see students and I enjoy intruding into the places they inhabit. The coffee shops or the pizza place that serves pizzas that look like ice cream cones for example... and there are dessert pizzas (in cones of course and very good!). I know, how could you after that wonderful lunch?
The best known attraction is the Scrovegni Chapel, but remember you need to make reservations in advance (a couple of days should work) since only 25 are allowed in at anytime.
Parking in Padova is really bad (and expensive) even on Saturdays. Grab the tram from the station (1 Euro) down to the Basilica of St. Antony (you can't miss it). Take a tour through this place, then walk back through town to the train station, it's not that far. I'd recommend you take an earlier train from Castelfranco or you will run into a 'timing problem' typical of Italy. You get to a place about 10am, tour a few things, grab an early (noonish) lunch, enjoy the wine and food and then when you walk out (note the Italians are just walking in) all the shops are closed and in Padua and you really want to take a look at the shops... a few are open (like Nautica, but you can see this in the US) but all the others will be closed until 3:30pm. Of course, you could leave, take the train back and arrive just in time for the shops to open in Castelfranco, but that defeats the purpose of your day in Padova.
Make sure you walk through the University of Padova, or visit the area. Galileo and Copernicus taught here and Galileo is reported to have said that it was the best 18 years of his life. Founded in 1222 it's worth a look even if it's integrated into the city like most European universities, it's fun to see students and I enjoy intruding into the places they inhabit. The coffee shops or the pizza place that serves pizzas that look like ice cream cones for example... and there are dessert pizzas (in cones of course and very good!). I know, how could you after that wonderful lunch?
The best known attraction is the Scrovegni Chapel, but remember you need to make reservations in advance (a couple of days should work) since only 25 are allowed in at anytime.
posted by hsypher at 12:14 AM
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