When we left Munich, we took the train to Padova (Padua). Padua is a nice small university city (210,000) only about 40 km (28 miles) to Venice. University students are everywhere from the University of Padua, founded in 1222. Galileo taught there at some point. It’s like being in Fort Collins except on small, arcaded, narrow sidewalks and streets.
Padua gate
We had our first lesson on how to make coffee in the Moka Coffee pot. Pretty easy but not very efficient if you want to drink lots of coffee.
The moka coffee pot – fill with coffee and water and let it boil.
We stayed at a little apartment just up the street from the Basilica of St. Anthony where we followed an Indian tour group around in the church and eavesdropped on their Italian tour guide. St. Anthony’s body is in the church as well as a few relics.
View from our window of Basilica of St. Anthony
Basilica of St. Anthony – no pictures allowed inside
Basilica of Saint Anthony at night
After that visit, we wandered up the street to San Guistia church (We got kicked out because they have to close for lunch – 3 hour break!). The first woman to graduate from a university is buried in the monastery grounds near the church. We popped our head into the Bo Palace, part of the university where the rector has his office. The staircase leading up to it is much more grand than the entrance to the CSU Administration Building.
Church of San Giustia – pictures allowed here.
This was church day and the Duomo was the next stop – really plain compared to St. Anthony’s Basilica. The busiest lunch spot in the city was a tiny little calzone take-away stall with all sorts of calzone for 3 euro each. If students were eating there, it was good enough for us.
When we stopped for limone gelato cones, the server told me “There are so many good flavors to try” when I ordered a cone with 2 scoops of limone on each cone. I’m sure she thought I should try a second flavor on my cone.
I’m sure no one can use the church bells in Padua to tell time since they seem to ring at random times – 3:52, 4:29 … who knows!
A nun pedaled by our window. Maybe she knows what all the bells mean.
Hi! I had the great fortune of spending a week in Padova two Februaries ago or so, and I think the hotel was right down the street from your apartment – it was pretty much across from St. Anthony’s Basilica too. I enjoyed the town a lot as you did; very picturesque and filled as you say with students everywhere. Nice! – Rick Miranda