THE PROVINCE OF PADUA
The Province of Padua borders with:
- the Province of Treviso to the north;
- the Province of Venice to the East;
- the Province of Rovigo to the south; and
- the Provinces of Verona and Vicenza to the west.
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GEOGRAPHY
The territory of this Province is relatively flat with exception of the Colli Euganei (hills) to the south west of Padua city.
The Adige, Brenta and Bacchiglione are the most important rivers. There are also numerous canals, among which are the Canal Battaglia and the Canal Gorzone.
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THE COLLI EUGANEI
The Colli Euganei, west of Padua City, offer a variety of landscapes and stupendous panoramas. They are rich in forests, fruit lands, vineyards and olive plantations. One can comprehend how these hills have attracted inhabitants starting in very remote antiquity. Their beauty has inspired many famous poets and artists such as Petrarca, Foscolo and the Englishman, Robert Browning. The Colli Euganei are sprinkled with picturesque villages, magnificent villas, monasteries and castles; all tied together by wide and pleasant roadways. The Colli Euganei reach a maximum height of 602 m with Mount Venda. They are a tourist destination and offer interesting stopovers, especially in spring and autumn.
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THE SHORES OF THE BRENTA RIVER
During the 11th – 12th Centuries, the Venetians nurture a special passion for vacationing. The comedies of Carlo Goldoni pokes fun at this obsession for summer vacationing. It became fashionable to have a villa in the countryside: the more beautiful and sumptuous the villa, the more envied was the person that had it constructed.
Thanks to that obsession, the Veneto is famous the world over for the splendor of those antique patrician villas, which remain intact after many centuries. One of the preferred locations for vacationing was the shore of the Brenta, that is the countryside on either side of this river, close to Padua City. As the Brenta is navigable, the Venetian upper class could easily reach their summer homes by water. The riverboats used for these voyages were called “Burchielli” and they permitted a comfortable voyage with various stops along the way.
Each villa not only has rooms for the owners and guests, but also salons for entertaining, light filled galleries, vast porticos and a small private church. Many of these villas are designed by famous architects such as Palladio and decorated with marvelous frescos by famous artists such as Veronese and Tiepolo. Beautiful shaded parks surround the villas, livened by birdcages, pools with rare fish and fragrant greenhouses. Caves, labyrinths and other curiosities make the stop over very pleasing to guests.
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A TOUR OF THE PROVINCE OF PADUA
Este, an ancient city at the foot of the Colli Euganei, with an imposing castle and the Nazionale Atesino Museum, one of the more important archeological museums in Italy.
Monselice, a gracious little city with agricultural and industrial roots at the foot of the Colli Euganei, with a beautiful castle, the Duomo and the Sanctuary of the Sette Chiese (the Seven Churches). In the past it was rich in quarries of flint stone: it was from these quarries that the materials to pave Piazza San Marco in Venice was obtained.
Arquà Petrarca, a small village, medieval in nature, with the tomb and the home in which the great poet Francesco Petrarca lived and died in 1374.
Montagnana, a small city famous for its turreted walls that are among the more beautiful and well preserved in all of Europe.
Cittadella, another small city with medieval origins, enclosed by a wall perfectly preserved with 32 towers and 4 gates.
Camposampiero, a city which houses, in an old church, the famous cell in which Saint Anthony lived.
Piazzola sul Brenta and Noventa Padovana with numerous artistic villas.
Abano Terme, is a merry city with numerous hotels and various attractions. Abano Terme, Montegrotto Terme and Battaglia Terme extend over an area, which once had many small volcanoes. When the volcanoes became inactive, the craters filled with water, forming clear lakes. Below, however, the volcanoes were not entirely extinct and they made the lake waters rather warm, giving them healing powers. Today, the lakes are no longer there, but at the source, the water gushes out at about 87 degrees centigrade. Even today, from the times of the Roman Empire, the mud of Abano is prescribed to cure many ailments.
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FAMOUS PEOPLE FROM THE PROVINCE OF PADUA
Tito Livio, from Padua City (59 BC – 17 AD), Latin Historian
Pietro d’Abano, from Abano Terme (1257 – 1315), Doctor and Alchemist
Andrea Mantegna, from Isola di Carturo (1508 – 1580), one of the greatest architects of Italy
Arrigo Boito, from Padua city (1842 – 1918) famous composer of music and operatic librettos.
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PADUA CITY, CAPITAL OF THE PROVINCE
Padua City is found on the plains by the Bacchiglione River between Vicenza and Venice.
In addition to being an important industrial and commercial centre, Padua is one of the more characteristic cities of the Veneto Region, full of vitality, modern and in continuous renewal.
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THE HISTORY OF PADUA CITY
Padua was probably founded by the prehistoric peoples of the Euganea area. In 89 BC, it becomes a faithful ally of Rome and very quickly becomes one of the richest and most populous cities of the Roman Empire with beautiful theatres, grandiose baths and splendid villas. With the fall of Rome, it become subject to the barbarian invasions and its citizens, in order to flee the hordes of Alarico and Attila (452 AD), take refuge on the islands of the Lagoon of Venice. Subsequently, the city is occupied by the Longobardi, the Carolingi and the Ungari.
In the 12th Century, Padua is a free city and beautiful monuments begin to be raised and the famous University of Padua is founded. However, it falls under the tyranny of Ezzelino da Romano from 1237 to 1256, which marks a sad period in its history. Under the dominion of the Carraresi, the city re-flourishes in the arts and literature and plays host to illuminaries such as Dante, Giotto and Petrarca.
From 1405 to 1797, Padua is part of the Republic of Venice. Industry and commerce begins to develop and its university attains its great fame. In this period, many artists poets and literaries come to light.
From 1797 the city is first occupied by the French and then the Austrians. In 1848, revolution breaks out and the period of the Risorgimento ends in 1866, with the liberation of the Veneto Region.
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PRINCIPLE MONUMENTS AND BUILDINGS
The Cappella of the Scrovegni: a small church from the 1300’s that houses the famous frescoes of Giotto: one of the greatest works of Italian painting.
The Church of the Ermentani and of Saint Giustina: constructed towards the end of the 13th century, housing frescoes by Andrea Mantegna.
Cafè Pedrocchi: A famous cafè that during the time of the Risorgimento was a meeting place for revolutionary patriots, literaries and students.
The University Building: not only one of the most important cultural centres in all of Europe, it also saw the start of the insurrection of 1848.
The Palazzo della Ragione (12th – 13th Centuries): the interior of this building is one large room decorated with precious frescoes.
The Duomo (1552): its majestic interior is rich in works of art.
The Basilica of Saint Anthony: constructed between 1232 and 1307 to house the tomb of Saint Anthony.
The Civic Museum with its rich picture gallery.