Tourist Attractions in Padua

The most interesting and beautiful tourist sites in Padua

Photos, reviews, descriptions, and links to maps

About Padua

Padua is a small Italian town, a real treasure trove of architectural masterpieces, surrounded by magnificent nature. People have been settling here since the 10th century B.C. During the Ancient Roman era, the area was inhabited by the Veneti tribes, from whom the whole region of Italy got its name.

There’s plenty to keep keen lovers of Renaissance art busy in Padua. The entire Scrovegni Chapel is painted with frescoes by the brilliant and talented Giotto, and the amazing architecture of the old buildings of the University of Padua is a classic example of the early Renaissance style of construction.

Padua will also be interesting for active tourists. Almost 70 kilometres of cycling and hiking trails are located within the picturesque Euganean Hills Park.

Top-15 Tourist Attractions in Padua

Ragione Palace

 4.6/5

2456 reviews

The palace was built between the 12th and 13th centuries. The ceiling frescoes were created by Giotto di Bonde. Unfortunately, these unique paintings were destroyed during a roof collapse in the 18th century. Some of the images remain on the walls. The façade of the palazzo is surrounded by long arched galleries, which nowadays house restaurants and shops. Inside the palace is the Stone of Dishonour, on which debtors repented during the Middle Ages.

Open time

Monday: Closed
Tuesday: 9:00 AM – 6:30 PM
Wednesday: 9:00 AM – 6:30 PM
Thursday: 9:00 AM – 6:30 PM
Friday: 9:00 AM – 6:30 PM
Saturday: 9:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Sunday: 9:00 AM – 6:30 PM

Prato della Valle

 4.6/5

53218 reviews

The square is considered the largest in Italy, covering 90,000 m². In 1636, a theatre building was erected here for impromptu fights and races. At the end of the XVIII century it was decided to transform the area into a recreational area for the inhabitants of Padua. By that time, the city had already grown sufficiently, with palaces and town houses surrounding the future square.

Open time

Monday: Open 24 hours
Tuesday: Open 24 hours
Wednesday: Open 24 hours
Thursday: Open 24 hours
Friday: Open 24 hours
Saturday: Open 24 hours
Sunday: Open 24 hours

Piazza dei Signori

 4.7/5

14352 reviews

The Piazza is located in the historical centre of Padua. Until the fourteenth century, it was the site of an entire residential quarter. In the Middle Ages, it was often the venue for musical performances and theatrical productions for the entertainment of the townspeople. On the square there is the picturesque Captain’s Palace with a high clock tower of the XVI century. The elegant astronomical dial shows the date and time. The tower clock is believed to be one of the earliest chronometers in Italy.

Open time

Monday: Open 24 hours
Tuesday: Open 24 hours
Wednesday: Open 24 hours
Thursday: Open 24 hours
Friday: Open 24 hours
Saturday: Open 24 hours
Sunday: Open 24 hours

University of Padua

 4.5/5

1534 reviews

The educational institution was first mentioned in the documents of the 13th century. Active development began in the XV century, when several new buildings were built. With the advent of the Renaissance, the university became an important centre of secular science. Astronomy, medicine, law were taught here. Galileo himself gave lectures within the walls of the university. In 1556, a new building was built for the institution – Palazzo del Bo, which became a classic monument of Renaissance architecture.

Open time

Palazzo Zuckermann

 4.4/5

565 reviews

The Zuckermann Palace houses the city’s Museum of Applied Arts. Here you can see collections of antique jewellery, weapons, stone and metalwork, eighteenth-century furniture, ceramics and medieval clothing. The exposition does not tell about any particular historical epoch, you can even notice that the items are arranged somewhat chaotically. The building itself is a small three-storey mansion.

Open time

Monday: Closed
Tuesday: 10:00 AM – 7:00 PM
Wednesday: 10:00 AM – 7:00 PM
Thursday: 10:00 AM – 7:00 PM
Friday: 10:00 AM – 7:00 PM
Saturday: 10:00 AM – 7:00 PM
Sunday: 10:00 AM – 7:00 PM

Abbazia di Santa Giustina

 4.6/5

1524 reviews

The basilica was built on the burial place of the Christian martyr Justina of Padua. Since the VI century there was a church on this place. The modern temple appeared in the XVI century. The building is built in the form of a cross 122 metres long and 82 metres wide. Inside there are tombs of several Christian saints, the tomb of Justina is located above the main altar, which was painted by the master P. Veronese. The basilica also houses the relics of St Luke.

Open time

Monday: 7:30 AM – 12:00 PM, 3:00 – 6:00 PM
Tuesday: 7:30 AM – 12:00 PM, 3:00 – 6:00 PM
Wednesday: 7:30 AM – 12:00 PM, 3:00 – 6:00 PM
Thursday: 7:30 AM – 12:00 PM, 3:00 – 6:00 PM
Friday: 7:30 AM – 12:00 PM, 3:00 – 6:00 PM
Saturday: 7:30 AM – 12:00 PM, 3:00 – 6:00 PM
Sunday: 7:30 AM – 12:00 PM, 3:00 – 6:00 PM

The Basilica of St. Anthony

 4.8/5

43869 reviews

One of the largest churches in Padua, built in the 13th century. Construction began 19 years after the death of St Anthony of Padua. Originally, the Chapel of the Dark Madonna was erected over the saint’s tomb; after the basilica was built, it ended up inside the church. In the square in front of the entrance there is a statue of Gattamelata (one of the rulers of Padua) by Giotto. The church is visited by a large number of pilgrims every year.

Open time

Monday: 6:15 AM – 7:30 PM
Tuesday: 6:15 AM – 7:30 PM
Wednesday: 6:15 AM – 7:30 PM
Thursday: 6:15 AM – 7:30 PM
Friday: 6:15 AM – 7:30 PM
Saturday: 6:15 AM – 7:30 PM
Sunday: 6:15 AM – 7:30 PM

Padua Cathedral

 4.4/5

2245 reviews

The Cathedral is the third church built in the centre of Padua. The first church of the VI century stood until 1117. The second building – until the first half of the XVI century. The construction of the third cathedral was carried out according to the plan of Michelangelo Buanarotti and lasted about 200 years. Next to the church there is a baptistery richly painted with frescoes on the popular at that time themes of Christ’s sufferings and the Last Judgement.

Open time

Monday: 7:30 AM – 7:30 PM
Tuesday: 7:30 AM – 7:30 PM
Wednesday: 7:30 AM – 7:30 PM
Thursday: 7:30 AM – 7:30 PM
Friday: 7:30 AM – 7:30 PM
Saturday: 7:30 AM – 7:30 PM
Sunday: 7:30 AM – 7:30 PM

Scrovegni Chapel

 4.8/5

14369 reviews

A modest church whose facade hides the greatest cultural treasure of mankind – original frescoes by the incomparable Giotto di Bonde from the early 14th century. They are considered one of the major works of art in Western Europe. The images of the “Judgement Day” fresco occupy the entire inner wall of the main façade. The rest of the walls are painted with the Nativity of Christ and the Adoration of the Magi, the Nativity of the Virgin Mary, Baptism, the Last Supper and other biblical subjects.

Open time

Monday: 9:00 AM – 6:45 PM
Tuesday: 9:00 AM – 6:45 PM
Wednesday: 9:00 AM – 6:45 PM
Thursday: 9:00 AM – 6:45 PM
Friday: 9:00 AM – 6:45 PM
Saturday: 9:00 AM – 6:45 PM
Sunday: 9:00 AM – 6:45 PM

Chiesa degli Eremitani

 4.6/5

1137 reviews

The church is located near the Chapel of Skrovegni. The building was erected at the end of the 13th century. The interior painting was done by the masters A. da Forli, A. Mantegna and Gvariento. The temple and monastery were built by Augustinian monks who preached a hermit lifestyle. The monastery existed until the 19th century, when Napoleon Bonaparte set up his barracks here.

Open time

Monday: 7:30 AM – 7:00 PM
Tuesday: 7:30 AM – 7:00 PM
Wednesday: 7:30 AM – 7:00 PM
Thursday: 7:30 AM – 7:00 PM
Friday: 7:30 AM – 7:00 PM
Saturday: 9:00 AM – 7:00 PM
Sunday: 9:00 AM – 7:00 PM

Musei Civici Eremitani

 4.5/5

1329 reviews

A museum complex that includes the Pinakothek and an archaeological exhibition. It houses sculptures, coin collections, crockery and other archaeological finds, as well as an impressive collection of paintings by famous painters. In the Pinacoteca you can admire works by Tintoretto, Giotto, Titian, Tiepolo and Bellini. The archaeological section displays exhibits from different periods of Padua’s existence.

Open time

Monday: Closed
Tuesday: 9:00 AM – 7:00 PM
Wednesday: 9:00 AM – 7:00 PM
Thursday: 9:00 AM – 7:00 PM
Friday: 9:00 AM – 7:00 PM
Saturday: 9:00 AM – 7:00 PM
Sunday: 9:00 AM – 7:00 PM

Pedrocchi Café

 4.4/5

9652 reviews

The historic café has been in operation since 1831. Since its opening, its distinctive feature has been the absence of front doors and 24-hour opening hours. The very first Pedrocchi coffee house opened in 1772. At the turn of the 19th century, Pedrocchi, the heir to Bergamo, began to develop the whole coffee business and started the construction of a new café with its own bakery, which has survived to this day.

Open time

Monday: 8:00 AM – 12:00 AM
Tuesday: 8:00 AM – 12:00 AM
Wednesday: 8:00 AM – 12:00 AM
Thursday: 8:00 AM – 12:00 AM
Friday: 8:00 AM – 1:00 AM
Saturday: 8:00 AM – 1:00 AM
Sunday: 8:00 AM – 12:00 AM

Villa Contarini Camerini

 4.7/5

4101 reviews

A 16th century country villa built for the Contarini brothers, members of the Venetian aristocracy. It used to be a hunting ground. The building is surrounded by a large park of 40 hectares, where there are stocked lakes and alleys for walking. The architectural ensemble of the villa was significantly extended during the Baroque period. The facade was decorated by V. Scamozzi and B. Longhena.

Open time

Monday: 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM
Tuesday: 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM
Wednesday: Closed
Thursday: 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM
Friday: 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM
Saturday: 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM
Sunday: 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM

University of Padua Botanical Garden

 4.6/5

4892 reviews

The Botanical Garden was created in the 16th century during the heyday of the Republic of Venice. It is considered to be the oldest in the world, with original plantings still preserved. The garden belongs to the University of Padua. At first it was used to grow medicinal plants, from which students made various potions. But gradually the collection of the garden was enriched with plants brought by Venetian merchants from long voyages. In 1997, the Botanical Garden of Padua was inscribed on the UNESCO lists.

Open time

Monday: Closed
Tuesday: 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Wednesday: 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Thursday: 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Friday: 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Saturday: 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Sunday: 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM

Euganean Hills Park

 4.7/5

65 reviews

A natural park with the spas of Montegrotto Terme and Abano. Also within the park are the medieval manor of Arquà Petrarca, the town of Monselice and the monastery of Abbazia di Praglia. The area is characterised by a remarkably beautiful and peaceful landscape. Vineyards and orchards grow on the hillsides. You can walk, cycle or drive through the park.

Open time

Monday: Open 24 hours
Tuesday: Open 24 hours
Wednesday: Open 24 hours
Thursday: Open 24 hours
Friday: Open 24 hours
Saturday: Open 24 hours
Sunday: Open 24 hours