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Flying into Venice's Marco Polo airport I had a certain feeling of Deja Vu. I have visited Venice on a number of occasions, to this point it has been my favourite city break destination. What can I say the feeling of staying on Guidecca island and getting boats everywhere has always felt novel and special. This time however Venice would not be my final destination, instead the Northern Italian city of Padua was my end goal.
Meeting and staying with friends who live just outside the city I can not give any review on hotels and where to stay, however from spending time in the city, the centre feels small and everything is within walking distance. This means book a place to stay anywhere near the centre and you are going to be fine.
Padua is one of those cities where wandering the streets is the best way to discover new things. Walking past restaurants and cafes that pull you in with the smell of the fantastic local cuisine. Ok guide books can tell you so much but the smell of quality pizza in your nostrils cant be ignored.
The first place to wander should be the Prato Della Valle. This famous old square is the largest in Italy and home to the grand Basilica of Santa Guistina. The Basilica was built in the 6th Century and towers about the main square. The square itself has a grassy area in the centre perfect for laying down and watching the world go by. The grass area is surrounded by a canal which is banked by 78 statues. The area of Prato Della Valle felt different to so many other european city squares. Firstly there was none of the crowds found in Brugge, none of the questionable activities of Amsterdam and none of the protests often found in my hometown of London. The square was quiet, a place to reflect on the history or relax in one of the cafes or restaurants that surrounded it.
This theme continued for our stay in Padua with the city seeming near enough empty of tourists. This helped make our stay feel stress free, there were no busy lines to get into places of interest. No waiting to be seated in the restaurants, just a really welcome feel and some generous locals.
Other visitors would probably make more use of the historical sites and interesting churches but if I am being honest I was swept up in the laid back lifestyle of the city with the majority of my day being spent sat in great restaurants eating incredible food and enjoying the ambiance of the city. Other european cities are known for their squares with incredible architecture and I do not see Padua as being any different. With the opportunity to sit outside and watch the world walk by Padua will certainly be a place I choose to return to.