If you have only one day to visit Padua you will certainly have to organise it so that your itinerary takes in things that are reasonably close together. Fortunately, the city centre lends itself well to a 24-hour visit because it offers a concentrated mix of culture, art and entertainment. Guided tours and walks can easily fill your day, enabling you to pass your time soaking up the atmosphere of the city.
What any visit to Padua cannot omit is a stroll through the piazze of the city centre: Piazza dei Signori, Piazza delle Erbe and Piazza della Frutta. Here you will find such gems as Caffè Pedrocchi, Palazzo Moroni, Palazzo della Ragione and the Clock Tower. The streets of the old city centre also have a wealth of shops – from famous boutiques to small craft stores – so you can also dedicate a little time to shopping. Another thing not to miss is Prato della Valle, a majestic open space (the largest city square in Padua), which has the Basilica of Santa Giustina at one end and is very close to the famous Basilica of St. Anthony. For those who have a passion for paintings and frescoes, a visit to the Scrovegni Chapel and the nearby Church of the Eremitani is a must; to conclude the tour of Padua’s religious buildings, one should also take in the Duomo and the Baptistery. During this visit you can also get a flavour of ‘Padua, the University City’ by visiting the Palazzo del Bò, which houses the Faculty of Jurisprudence and the Chancellor’s Offices.
When dusk arrives do not miss the atmospheric streets of the Old Ghetto, where there are innumerable places to eat or else taste the famous local aperitif: lo spritz.
Getting around the city is truly easy: all of the places mentioned are within walking distance of each other, but you can also opt to use public transport or even hire a bike.
Some of the sites mentioned do require booking for guided tours, so check up on opening hours and contact information.