Discover Padua and its surroundings.

2647_05_C415_PADOVA_GB 17-05-2006 10:38 Pagina 10
Padua: a dynamic city.
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Vital, creative and dynamic: the spirit
of Padua combines ancient charm,
millennary traditions and the vibrant
rhythms and vitality of the modern
metropolis. The city centre has been
transformed into a wide pedestrian
oasis, where streets and picturesque
squares are lined with historical
monuments, street cafés and
historical coffee-houses, music
bars and venues, bookshops,
high-fashion boutiques, antiques
and modern handicraft shops,
galleries, classy restaurants.
Historical buildings merge with
daring contemporary architecture, such
as Daniel Libeskind’s memorial “Memory
and light”. The brilliant American architect
of Polish origins, winner of the competition
for the reconstruction of Ground Zero
in New York, has left in Padua an uplifting
memorial, which contains a dramatic beam salvaged
from the World Trade Centre attack, given to the city
of Padua by the USA Department of State in memory
of the victims of the attack to the Twin Towers.
The so called Antico Ghetto with its suggestive
narrow streets lined with porticoed medieval palaces
and prestigious buildings has been recently transformed
into a trendy borough which encloses innovative shops
and locals, refined restaurants and old osterias.
The medieval squares – Piazza delle Erbe, della Frutta
and dei Signori - are the seat of the daily market
and have been representing one of the most beloved
meeting points of the Paduans for the last 800 years.
1 Palazzo della Ragione, Loggia (detail)
2 Old Ghetto
3 Palazzo Moroni (City Hall) and Caffè Pedrocchi
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On Summer nights the colourful tables
and chair of bars and cafés cover these
squares, and open air music gently
accompany the servings of food
and drinks. The short and narrow
via St. Fermo and the nearby
Galleria Borromeo and Piazza
Insurrezione is an unrivalled
designer shopping borough,
where you will find all the most
famous Italian and foreign
fashion designers. Along the
streets leading from the University
to the Basilica of St. Anthony
you will find lots of ancient
and modern bookshops, food
and drink specialities. Imposing medieval
and Renaissance buildings face the old
streets, such as Palazzo Zabarella, one of
the most culturally vital and prestigious
venues of the city. Piazza del Santo and
the surrounding streets are the ideal area to find
a typical souvenir and take a picture of some of the
symbols of the city: the huge Basilica, Donatello’s
equestrian statue, Prato della Valle, the Botanic Garden
or the Museum of the Pre-Cinema, unique in its genre
in Italy. After having wandered through monuments,
attractions and shops take a break and relax at one
of the numerous restaurants or trattorias. Nowadays
you can find an exciting variety of flavours and dishes
in every Padua high street.
Almost all restaurants serve food based on traditional
Paduan or Venetian recipes but with a modern and
international twist. Ethnic-cuisine lovers will be spoilt
for choice as the city offers good quality foreign cuisine
from Mexican to Japanese, from Indian to Persian,
to name but a few. Cultural life is very vital, too.
This is refelected in the rich events calendar and
in the wide range of art venues, galleries, exhibition
halls and high quality collections.
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Special events, celebrations of culture and festivals run
periodically throughout the year. Open air performances
take place in summer in all major parks and squares
of the city. In the last years the Paduans have
re-discovered the importance of the waterways which
surround the city, and recently there has been an
increasing development of boat tours. From March to
October sightseeing boat tours offer cruises and journeys,
which give the possibility to enjoy the view of the old
walls and of peculiar spots of the city at the leisurely
pace of river and canal boats. Thanks to the presence of
Padova Fiere (Padua Trade Exhibition Centre) and of the
University the congressual activity is very vital too.
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Padua is an excellent
business destination
as the congress
system offers the
diverse range of
meeting venues
to ensure success.
Good infrastructures,
locations and
multifunctional
spaces, from stately
homes to the most
modern congress
halls: Padua has the right meeting-place for any event.
Culture, art, science, entertainment, shopping, good
cuisine, nightlife: whether you are wishing to stay one
day or for a longer holiday Padua will surprise you with
its oustanding variety of attractions.
4 Piazza delle Erbe, market
5 Prato della Valle
6 Memorial “Memory
and Light”, D. Libeskind
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