Is Padua worth a visit?
I will answer that question right here, right now. YES, I think Padua is worth a visit.
In fact, one wonders why tourists aren’t crowding the streets of Padua.
With its airy piazzas, atmospheric portico-lined streets, art treasures, elegant cafes, and the second oldest university in Italy, this city can provide a rewarding day of explorations – or more than one.
As an option for a day trip from Venice it seems to be regularly eclipsed by romantic Verona, but I think Padua deserves its own accolades. With an inexpensive, less than 30-minute train ride from Venice, it demands less effort than the city of Romeo and Juliet. And if you need that Shakespeare connection, you can rest easy: Padua is the setting for The Taming of the Shrew.
I will come clean now and confess that despite having lived more than half of my life near Venice, I am to blame for exactly the same behaviour as most visitors to Italy: I always neglected Padua in favour of more illustrious cities. I remember my high school classmates raving about the city’s exciting vintage shops, and I had heard repeatedly about the UNESCO-listed frescoes of the Scrovegni Chapel. And yet, I only recall visiting once (hunting for vintage clothing) and it must have been a rushed trip because it left no impressions in my memory. I did get some cool 70s knitwear though.
But recently, on a visit to my parents’ house, I decided that it was time to atone for the lack of interest I had shown to Padua all those years, and I travelled the two-stop train journey.
It took a single day spent in the city to make me realise the extent of what I had missed.
I didn’t have to walk far from the station to be hit by the typical liveliness of university towns. Small groups of students with their low-hanging cross-body bags were chatting and walking leisurely on the cobbled streets or enjoying an espresso on the patio of a bar. Rustic, inexpensive eateries with daily specials handwritten on paper sheets against the windows were gathering a hungry young crowd. And those colourful vintage stores were still there.
In my day of exploration, I was able to visit the majority of the historic centre, and ventured to some extra locations on the very advice of friendly locals that wanted me to fully appreciate their city. Because just seeing me stopping in front of a beautiful building/monument/shop while holding a camera prompted a few lovely souls to come and talk to me about what I was looking at; which then led to further recommendations and a lengthening of my itinerary.
Exploring Padua is a breeze. Most of the attractions can be found in the relatively contained area of the pedestrianised historical centre, but there are a couple of exceptions deserving the extra effort. The historic centre falls almost entirely within a ZTL (Limited Traffic Zone), so I recommend you don’t attempt a visit of Padua by car. It could cost you a lot - literally. If you arrive by road, the following three car parks have the best locations, and will give you peace of mind while you wander the city:
Parcheggio Piazza Insurrezione for all the historical pedestrian area. Handy for most squares, Caffè Pedrocchi, Palazzo della Ragione, old Jewish Ghetto.
Parcheggio Piazza Rabin for the South of the city. Handy for Piazza del Campo and the old Jewish Ghetto.
Park Porte Contarine for the North of the City. Handy for the Scrovegni Chapel.
If you need some ideas on how to spend your time, my guide on 7 things to do on a day visit of Padua will give you some great pointers. Or you can join a guided tour with knowledgeable locals that will guarantee a very immersive experience.
