Padua (Italy)

Padua (Padova) is a Bacchiglione River (Po River) cruise port in northern Italy (Veneto region), and the capital city of Padua province. The city has population around 215,000 and is part of Padua-Treviso-Venice metro area, with combined population around 1,6 million. Venice is located approx 30 km (19 ml) to the east.

Follows the list of Padua's most popular tourist attractions and sights:

• Scrovegni Chapel (city's most notable) houses frescoes by Giotto. Prior to entering the chapel, visitors must spend 15 min in a climate-controlled vault, used to keep the temperature between the outside and the interior constant. This is needed to protect the priceless frescoes from moisture and mold.
• Palazzo della Ragione has Europe's largest roof unsupported by columns. The building stands on arches, and its upper floor is surrounded by an open loggia (similar that surrounding the Vicenza basilica).
• Palazzo del Capitaniato was the residence palace of the Venetian governors
• Basilica di Sant'Antonio da Padova (aka Il Santo) is amng the most celebrated churches, as it has the bones of Saint Antony.
• Prato della Valle square is one of Europe's biggest, and has in its center a wide garden.
• Other popular churches and basilicas are Church of the Eremitani, Santa Sofia, San Gaetano, Baroque Padua Synagogue, San Clemente, Santa Croce, St Daniel, St Francis, Santa Giustina, St Mary Cathedral, Padua Cathedral.
• The city centre is surrounded by walls (total length 11 km / 7 ml) built during the early 16th century.
• The city's most famous bridges ("ponte") are named San Lorenzo, Molino, Altinate, Corvo and San Matteo.

Padua is included in the Uniworld's Po River cruisetour schedule of the ship River Countess. Next table shows an exemplary itinerary as ports sequence. The 7-day roundtrip Venezia cruise is themed "Splendours of Northern Italy and Rome" and priced ~USD 8500 pp (lowest category cabin, double-occupancy rates).

Via motorway A4 Brescia-Padova, the city can be reached by car from Verona and Milano. Motorway A4 Padova-Venezia links the city with Venice and Trieste. Motorway A13 Bologna-Padova links it to Ferrara and Bologna.

Rail access to Padua is via two railway stations. The main (Stazione di Padova) is one of Italy's biggest train stations, with 11 platforms, serving over 450 trains daily and used by over 20 million passengers per year. High-speed trains connect Padua to Milan, Rome, Bologna, Florence and Venice. Train travel time to Milan is 2 hours, to Rome - 3 hours, to Venice - just 20 min.