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Whyle strolling through the heart of Padua, between Caffè Pedrocchi and Palazzo Moroni, it is impossible not to come across one of the city’s most important places: Palazzo del Bo, the historic seat of the University of Padua.
But what makes this building so special? Not only its beauty, but above all the centuries of history, science, and freedom it preserves.
“Under a Sky of Wonders” is the chosen theme for Christmas 2025 in Padua — an invitation to enjoy the city during its most magical time of year. The streets light up, squares and buildings are dressed in stars, and the festive atmosphere fills every corner with lights, scents, and warmth.
Why visit Padua in November?
Padua in November is anything but a grey or sleepy city. Even this month, there are plenty of things to do in Padua and its province, with something for every taste: from the opera season to the Jazz Festival, from major autumn–winter exhibitions to the rich program of the “Novembre Patavino” Festival, now in its twelfth edition.
A month that brings together culture, music, art and food and wine, turning the city into a true open-air stage.
If you love modern art, this is an exhibition not to be missed.
The works come from the LaM – Lille Métropole Musée d’Art moderne, d’Art contemporain et d’Art brut, one of the most important French museums dedicated to modern art.
A unique opportunity to admire the protagonists of the 20th century up close and also discover the lesser-known but equally fascinating voices of modernity.
In autumn, Padua lights up with colors and flavors, from turning red trees and luminous mists on the Euganean Hills to chestnuts roasting on the fire and new wine. Here are our suggestions on what to see and do in Padua in autumn 2025:
Vivian Maier was a nanny. An ordinary person, it seemed. She lived between New York, Paris, and especially Chicago, taking care of children in various families. But in her free time, almost secretly, she photographed everything that caught her eye: faces, streets, scenes of everyday life. No one knew she was building an immense visual treasure.
It’s the height of summer and the temperatures in Padua are rising. So where can you go to find some shade, have fun with the kids, walk the dog, enjoy an aperitif, or enjoy cultural and sporting events — all surrounded by greenery? In Padua’s summer parks, of course!
During your stay in Padua, don’t miss the opportunity to visit one of the city’s most fascinating and spiritual places: the Basilica of Santa Giustina, located in the elegant setting of Prato della Valle.
The Oratory of San Giorgio and the Oratory of San Michele Arcangelo have been included by UNESCO among the World Heritage Sites within the 14th-century fresco cycles of Padua. These are two gems you absolutely cannot miss.
Street food and taverns in the historic center: here are our suggestions for admiring the city of the Saint on a beautiful spring day. Let’s take a walk through the narrow streets of the center, eating something delicious bought from a street food spot. Or let’s take a break in a historic tavern to taste the typical dishes of our cuisine.
Two Major Upcoming Events in Padova: The 10th ICEVI-Europe Conference and Padova SensoriAbile.
What are these events about? Professionals from around the world will gather to share research and experiences aimed at improving the quality of life and autonomy of blind and visually impaired children and young adults, while also promoting a culture of inclusion and accessibility in society.
Both events are promoted by the Fondazione Robert Hollman, which has been providing comprehensive support and guidance for children with visual impairments and their families in Italy since the 1970s.
Elena Cornaro Piscopia is the winner of the online survey conducted in October-November 2024 in Padua. The purpose of the survey was to determine which illustrious female figure Padua would dedicate a statue to, to be placed in the heart of the city, in front of Caffè Pedrocchi.
Until February 23, 2025, the Cattedrale Ex Macello in Padua is hosting an absolutely original and unmissable event: Super Fun! Selfie and 3D Illusions .
Prosecuzione ideale della Mostra delle Illusioni svoltasi nella stessa sede nel 2023, è una mostra interattiva che permette a bambini e adulti di compiere un viaggio tra sogno e realtà attraverso un percorso espositivo originale e sorprendente. Ci immergeremo infatti in un mondo di illusioni ottiche, giochi di prospettiva, scenografie spettacolari e situazioni surreali, dove sarà il visitatore a diventare protagonista assoluto.
When: October 5, 2024 – January 12, 2025
Where: Palazzo Zabarella, Padua
The Grenoble Museum has lent Palazzo Zabarella a significant selection of its rich collection of drawings, revealing a hitherto unexplored part of the collection; in this new exhibition, the best-known artists are mentioned in the title: Matisse, Picasso, Modigliani and Mirò.
Palazzo Zabarella in Padua thus continues its international dialogue with prestigious museums around the world. It is now the turn, in fact, of the Grenoble Museum, whose collection of early 20th-century French art is second only to the Centre Pompidou.
The museum boasts an enviable collection of masterpieces, making this an excellent reason to visit Padua—perhaps during the Christmas holidays.
The historic shop Drogheria Preti is a hidden gem in the heart of the city, located at 26 Prato della Valle. Step inside, and you’ll feel like you’ve traveled back in time, surrounded by bulk spices, candy in large jars, soaps, dried and candied fruits, chocolate, licorice sticks, and, above all, the scents and aromas of yesteryear.
Se vi diciamo “città d’acqua” e pensate solo a Venezia, probabilmente è perché non avete ancora visitato Padova.
Scoprite con noi i corsi d’acqua interni di Padova e i percorsi in cui la città si specchia nei suoi molteplici canali.
The Precinema Museum is one of the most unusual and evocative places in Padua.
Dedicated to the ancient forms of entertainment that preceded and influenced the invention of cinema, it exhibits a unique collection in the world.
A museum of wonders, which we invite you to discover with us.
Do you want to see Padua and have “only” 3 days available? Here is the itinerary to optimize your long weekend in our city.
To experience 72 unforgettable hours, follow our guide made especially for you!
With “Padova Urbs picta”, Padua and its fourteenth-century pictorial cycle has become a UNESCO heritage site.
A unique itinerary in the world also available in an app that we recommend you download to discover all the secrets of the eight Paduan sites of universal value.
This clock is considered a symbol of excellence by locals. It stands out in Piazza dei Signori, the central square and main reference point in Padua, counting the time day after day in the historic centre.
It is an astronomical clock, that tells us the lunar phases and the position of the planets. It represents the summa of our ancestors’ knowledge of the Universe in the scholarly Padua of 1300, the golden century of our city.
A technical, artistic and engineering masterpiece, the astronomical clock in Padua represents a jewel that deserves to be known and visited.
The parks that are open to the public in Padua are an important part of the city for many reasons.
They offer a chance to do physical exercise out in the open air, to relax, they help protect the environment in more trafficked areas and they even offer nutritional benefits thanks to the fruits grown in the urban orchards.
Green areas in Padua are made up of many public parks, playgrounds, gardens and urban parks. Often there are also rides suitable for various age groups such as seesaws, slides, swings and small carousels for children. There are also ponds, outdoor gyms and spaces suited for yoga, tai chi, rhythmic gymnastics and other practices.
Here’s a tour through Padua’s green spaces:
Running at sunset after work or first thing in the morning before starting your day can be one of the best times of day.
Other than keeping us in shape, running helps us relax and free our mind from every thought and worry.
To do this, you need to plan your jogging route. To help you in your search, here are the locals’ favourite running routes.
The frescoed Scrovegni Chapel by Giotto is one of the reasons why there’s a regional saying “Venice the beautiful, and Padua her sister”.
Our city does, in fact, contain artistic and historic masterpieces to rival those in Venice.
So if you find yourself in Padua and want to visit something that is truly unique, you absolutely have to visit this red-brick chapel. You will be left awestruck by the extraordinary circle of frescoes painted by Giotto between 1303 and 1305.
Under a magnificent star-studded sky, an emotional journey awaits you: immerse yourselves in a work of art that is recognised around the world as one of the masterpieces of Western art and set to become a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Come, take a look…
Padua is one of the most important cities not only in the Veneto region, but in all of the north-east of Italy.
Near Venice, Verona and Vicenza, it’s in a well-connected location by car, train and plane.
Here’s how to get to Padua and how to move around the city, without needing a car.
In Padua there is a green oasis to discover: the Botanical Garden.
Founded in 1545, when academics of the University of Padua designed it to allow university students to learn about the plants from which they could extract medicinal properties, they decided to create a garden to grow ‘simple’ plants, that derived directly from nature and that at the time were the primary source of cures. Here’s why the first botanical gardens were named Horti simplicium, the Simple Gardens.
It’s a difficult time for everyone. The coronavirus hit us with the strength of a hurricane, and it hasn’t let us go yet. But to tackle the crisis, the hospital of Padua has been used as an example for the world. Just as it was two Paduan companies that made innovative contributions that were particularly useful during the public health crisis. Let’s see together what these were.
If you find yourselves in Padua, visiting the Pedrocchi Café is a must. Because the Pedrocchi Café in Padua isn’t just any café, and it’s not even just one of Italy’s historical cafés: it’s part of the history and identity of the city, like Prato della Valle and the Basilica of Saint Anthony, belonging to the memory of every person that’s been here.
Prato della Valle, the biggest square in all of Europe after Moscow’s Red Square, with the Caffè Pedrocchi is one of the symbols of Paduan identity. With its 90,000 m2 surface, it can legitimately boast the title of one of the most beautiful pedestrian zones in the world.
In the centre of the famous “lawn with no grass” is the island of Memmia.
A vast egg-shaped garden adorned with 4 bridges, 8 obelisks, 16 ornamental vases and a canal whose inner and outer border has pedestals upon which rise sculptures installed between 1775 and 1883 by various artists. But who do they represent?
