Padua

Day 1: Frescoes, markets, and medieval streets

Begin with Padua’s 14th‑century fresco masterpieces, then slip into the city’s living medieval core. Today balances UNESCO art with the hum of daily life around the historic markets.

• Morning: Scrovegni Chapel (pre‑book months ahead). Arrive 20–30 minutes early for check‑in; visits include a 15‑minute airlock and 15 minutes inside. Afterwards, cross to the Musei Civici agli Eremitani and the Church of the Eremitani to see the moving Mantegna fragments; no flash photography.
• Midday: Walk 10 minutes to Palazzo della Ragione; browse the 800‑year‑old markets in Piazza delle Erbe and Piazza della Frutta and grab a quick lunch. In hot weather, use the porticoes for shade; in winter, the covered arcades keep you dry and warm.
• Afternoon: Duomo and the Baptistery for Giusto de’ Menabuoi’s celestial frescoes (small entry fee; can be quieter mid‑afternoon). If you plan multiple fresco sites, consider the Padova Urbs Picta Card for access and timed entries.
• Evening: Aperitivo in Piazza dei Signori beneath the astronomical clock, then a gentle wander under the porticoes. If it’s a Friday or weekend in season, look out for evening concerts in church cloisters or the Diocesan Museum.

Day 2: Il Santo, Prato della Valle, and Santa Giustina

Immerse yourself in Padua’s spiritual heart, where devotion and world‑class art intertwine. Aim for earlier visits to experience quieter chapels and cooler temperatures.

• Morning: Basilica di Sant’Antonio (Il Santo) soon after opening for calm chapels. Observe the dress code (shoulders/knees covered), visit the tomb, the Chapel of Relics (the saint’s tongue and jawbone), and Donatello’s bronze altar; outside, see Donatello’s Gattamelata statue. Move next door to the Oratory of St. George for Altichiero’s vivid fresco cycle (no flash; brief but unmissable).
• Midday: Lunch along Via del Santo or in Piazza del Santo. Many smaller chapels pause at lunchtime; check posted hours and avoid moving around during Mass.
• Afternoon: Stroll or take the tram to Prato della Valle; visit the Orto Botanico (the world’s oldest university garden; serene in summer). Cross to Santa Giustina for vast Renaissance space, the tomb of St Justina, and relics of St Luke; it’s often hushed and contemplative.
• Evening: Return for Vespers at Il Santo (check the day’s schedule) or an organ recital if advertised. Dine near the former ghetto or around Prato; on 13 June (Feast of St Anthony) expect processions, crowds, and road closures—arrive on foot or by tram.

Day 3: University genius, hidden chapels, and living traditions

Today traces Padua’s intellectual soul and lesser‑known sacred gems. You’ll meet Galileo’s university, the Jewish story, and a modern sanctuary beloved by locals.

• Morning: Guided tour of Palazzo Bo (book ahead) for the Anatomical Theatre and Galileo’s Chair. Coffee nearby, then a short walk to Santa Sofia, one of Padua’s oldest churches, for a quiet Romanesque interlude.
• Midday: Explore the Jewish Ghetto’s lanes; join a pre‑booked guided visit of the Padua Synagogue and museum for context and access. Lunch in the area; many spots close mid‑afternoon, so eat on the earlier side.
• Afternoon: Oratorio di San Michele (delicate 15th‑century frescoes) or, if you prefer a contemporary saint, the Sanctuary of San Leopoldo Mandić to see the confessional and tomb that draw modern pilgrims. If you missed it on Day 1, step inside the great hall of Palazzo della Ragione when open for its vast frescoed “Salone.”
• Evening: Golden‑hour stroll on or along the Renaissance walls or by the canal before dinner in Piazza dei Signori. Off‑season brings atmospheric fog and quieter sites; in peak summer, shift indoor visits to mornings and evenings, and book fresco entries and university tours well in advance.

By Air

• Venice Marco Polo (VCE, ~40 km): Easiest gateway.
  • Coach: Direct services to Padua bus station in about 1–1h15.
  • Via train: Bus to Venezia Mestre (20–25 min), then train to Padova (14–30 min); total 60–75 min.
  • Taxi/car: 40–60 min depending on traffic.
• Treviso (TSF, ~55 km): Low-cost flights.
  • Bus to Treviso Centrale (15–20 min) then train to Padova (35–50 min); total ~1–1.5 h.
  • Alternative coach to Mestre then train.
• Verona (VRN, ~90 km):
  • Bus to Verona Porta Nuova (15 min) + train to Padova (45–60 min); total ~1.5–2 h.
• Bologna (BLQ, ~120 km):
  • Marconi Express to Bologna Centrale (7–8 min) + high-speed train to Padova (50–60 min); total ~1h15–1h30.
• Milan Malpensa (MXP, ~260 km):
  • Malpensa Express to Milano Centrale (~50 min) + high-speed train to Padova (~2 h); total ~3–3.5 h.

By Train

• Main station: Padova (Padova Centrale). Integrated with the city tram and the adjacent bus station (Autostazione – Piazzale Boschetti).
• Operators: Trenitalia (Frecciarossa/Frecciargento/Regionale) and Italo. Seat reservations required on high-speed services.
• Typical journey times:
  • Venice S. Lucia: 26–35 min (via Mestre 14–20 min).
  • Vicenza: 15–20 min.
  • Verona Porta Nuova: 45–60 min.
  • Bologna Centrale: 50–60 min.
  • Florence SMN: ~1h45–2 h (high-speed).
  • Milan Centrale: ~2–2h20 (high-speed).
  • Rome Termini: ~3–3h30 (usually via Bologna).

By Coach/Bus

• Long-distance coaches (e.g., FlixBus, Itabus) serve the Autostazione di Padova (Piazzale Boschetti), a 5-minute walk from the rail station, with links to Venice, Verona, Bologna, Milan, Trieste, Rome and beyond.
• Regional buses (Busitalia Veneto) hub at the Autostazione for towns across the Veneto; useful if coming from smaller centres without direct trains.

By Car

• Motorways: A4 (Turin–Milan–Verona–Padova–Venice–Trieste) and A13 (Padova–Ferrara–Bologna).
  • Exits: Padova Est (city centre/fair), Padova Ovest (west/industrial), Padova Sud (A13).
• Approximate driving times: Venice 40–60 min; Verona 1–1h15; Bologna ~1h20; Milan 2–2h30; Trieste 1h45–2 h.
• Notes: The historic centre has ZTL (limited-traffic zones). Use edge-of-centre parking (e.g., near the station, Padova Est park-and-ride) or Prato della Valle (Piazza Rabin) and continue by tram.