Padua: city centre

The Palazzo della Ragione

We are staying a really nice hotel, in a slightly rough area, by the railway station. Our explorations of Padua begin by walking south towards the city centre and past the magnificent Scrovegni Chapel. The next notable building is the Cassa di Risparmio (Savings Bank) which we pass on our left. There is a hint of our beloved art nouveau.

We head into the main square, in fact two squares either side of the wonderful Palazzo della Ragione. At the head of this post is the view from the Piazza della Frutta - below is the view from the Piazza delle Erbe - both sides and the ground floor of the building house a daily market.

From the Piazza delle Erbe side you can climb the steps which lead to a beautiful terrace with a frescoed roof.

This gives entry to the Palazzo and the Salone (Great Hall). The building dates from 1218-19. You can make out a large black horse at the far end. It is tempting to think it some modern art installation, but in fact it dates from 1466 and was given the city in 1837 by the Capodolista family.

The walls are frescoed with an astrological cycle of events in month or zodiac sign.

When we had finished feasting our eyes on the frescoes and marveling at the sheer size of the hall, we returned to the Piazza delle Erbe and headed from there towards the Duomo (cathedral). It is the third such structure on this site and was started in 1551. It was notionally completed in 1754, but with the façade being left unfinished. This is not unique - there is a similar example in Bologna, for example.

The Baptistery to the right has fine frescoes, but they were unfortunately for us under restoration. At right angles to the lovely Palazzo del Monte. A rather fine gate stands beside it.

Turning left from the Palazzo, we spotted this fantastic piece of street art on a corner to our right. 

Soon we were in Palazzo dei Signori, a fine square lined with bars and restaurants. At one end is the Palazzo del Capitano, with its magnificent Torre dell'Orologio, an astronomical clock.

If you stand with your back to the Torre, you have on your right the Loggia della Guardia, which so far as I can ascertain dates from 1523. It is a very beautiful Renaissance building.

Conditions: rather grey unfortunately.

Rating: Four and a half stars stars.