Day trip to Padova---what to see and which day?

In my opinion, the main reason to go to Padua is to see the Scrovegni Chapel and the Giotto Frescos. A reservation is required so pick a day and nail it down. For doctor hubby, the Anatomy Theater is a must. It goes back to 1400 or so. You can just go in the main University building downtown and sign up for an English language tour. You're only allowed in to the "stage" where the dissections took place and look up to all the viewing tiers above. Harvey got his degree here and went back to England and figured out the plumbing of the circulatory system.

Thanks, Sam. Yes, we will definitely want to see the Scrovegni Chapel,so we will reserve in advance. And my husband's main priority is the Teatro Anatomico, but the website ( in Italian) says it can only be seen aspartame of a guided tour of Palazzo Bo ( also reserved in advance). Maybe I am reading the Italian incorrectly? If I ask for English information on the Teatro Anatomico it links to the main Padove University website and it is hard to figure out where to navigate from there. I'll keep trying. I also found mention of a Museum of History of Medicine in St. Francis Hospital but no details. We have already been disappointed once on a medical museum visit---rode the vaporetto out to San Servolo to see the psychiatric hospital museum and were told we had to reserve a guided tour several days in advance, but they weren't actually doing the, because of an ongoing conference on the island. We should have called first. So, I am trying to gather as much advance information as I can on what we might want to see and whether we need to reserve. If there is too much for one day we can make a second trip. Me are in Venice for another ten days. The Orto Botanical Garden is on my own list but it appears that does not require a reservation, unless we want to visit the glasshouse this weekend.

Hi Lola, I'm not sure that weekend or not would be best in Padova. Maybe the University would be easier to deal with on a weekday? When you go to see the Giotto blue frescos - very worthwhile - the admission includes admission to the adjacent museum. It has nothing to do with the Chapel but is very good to see on its own merits. I think that strolling the University would be fun. I hope you continue to have a pleasant stay. Any acqua alta yet?

A quick RS summary (2008 book): Basilica of St Anthony, ^^ (2 RS little mountains), daily except museum closed Mon in winter. Also Chapel of Reliquaries, same as Basilica. Prato della Valle has weekly Sat market 0800-1900, and 3rd Sunday antiques. Hortus Botanicus closes Mondays in November, daily October. Palazzo della Ragione, 333 frescos, 0900-1900 not Monday, closed 1800 November. Caffé Pedrocchi, includes piano nobile with Museum of Risorgimento. 0900-2100, Thurs, Fri, Sat until midnight. Baptistry ^ if not going to Scrovegni, 1000-1800 daily. According to RS in that book, there are 3 tours daily which include the Anatomical Theatre, at 1515,1615,1715 on Mon, Wed, Fri; at 0915,1015,1115 on Tue, Thur, Sat. Little English. Confirm availability on 049 82 73 047 or stop by the University bookstore inside the palace, right side of courtyard. If space available you can buy tickets from the bookstore 15 minutes before tour. -=- The Michelin green book 2009 gives 3 stars to the Scrovegni, one to the attached museum. 2 to St Anthony, 1 to Palazzo della Ragione, 2 to the University, 1 to Caffé Pedrocchi, none to the Chiesa Santa Giustina but one to the altarpiece by Veronese it contains, and lists without stars the Orto Botanico. Happy Padova!!

Thanks, Nigel. We are having a great time and the weather has been perfect the past few days. We did have a bit of rain coinciding with high tides ( new moon) two weeks ago but nothing that would be called acqua alta. A bit of water over the sidewalks In a few places, and on low spots of the floor of San Marce. And the cruise ship passengers were all outfitted in yellowor orange plastic overboots, and brightly colored ponchos with the name of the is cruise line ( mainly Celebrity). But it was only around 75 cm. We wouldn't mind seeing an acqua alta but not on the day we have to get to the airport, please!!! Today there is a general transportation strike so only a few vaporetti are running. It will be interesting to see how it affects the crowds. We are heading out now to find out!

Since you will be at the Scrovegni Chapel, visit the Chiesa degli Eremitani next door for the frescoes that survived the WWII bombing of Padova.

The booking process for the Scrovegni Chapel looks rather formidable. Do you know if one gets a confirmation number for picking up tickets there, or a printable ticket? We are in Venice with iPad and no access to a printer, so if we are required to print out the actual ticket, I will have to find an Internet cafe with printer.

Sicne you're there in the off-season and since there are only two of you with some flexibility, you can wait to get Scrovegni tickets until you arrive at Padova. There's a TI in the train station that can get you all set up. You can choose from the available times. Since the Scrovegni Chapel is very close to the train station you'll want to do it either at the start or the end of your day. That's what we did in May 2011 without any problems. One tip - if you are going to take the Regionale train, buy your return tickets when you arrive in Padova. If you wait to buy them until the late afternoon, you'll be fighting hordes of students at the ticket machines. Learned that the hard way. Also, don't poo-poo the idea of going to St. Anthony's Basilica. It's very different looking from the other churches you'll have seen. They do enforce the dress code there. We saw them turn away an Italian woman who had bare shoulders. She was livid but the guards wouldn't give in. Some photos from our trip to Padova, in case you're interested: Padova in May 2011 Happy travels.

I'm looking at my confirmation from May 2012. It states "We kindly suggest you should print this coupon and bring it to the ticket office, otherwise you won't be given the tickets purchased." We bought a 2 day Padova card as well, (we spent 2 days there) which gave us transport on the tram from the station to downtown (Palazzo Bo and Palazzo Ragione) There is also a big street market in the Piazza's around the Ragione in the mornings. Pick up a Padova Card at the train station tourist office. Outside the station main door to the right.
Edit- The Padova Card is 2 day minimum, so not worth it for the day, but they may have a daily transport pass available. Useful for the tram, which gets you to the Chapel, downtown, near the St Anthony shrine and the Orto Botanico and the Prato della Valle.

Even if they offer a transit pass, it still might be cheaper to just buy a ticket for one ride, if you do what we did. The main sights in Padova are laid out along one long line (on which the tram runs), that goes from the train station to St. Anthony's Basilica. We ended up walking from the station to the basilica and then just hopped the tram back.

Thanks for the tips, and the great photos ( Michael). I think we'll follow the suggestion to book the chapel when we arrive rather than hassle with finding a way to print the tickets, since we can be flexible. We'll be doing that with the anatomy theater tour too. And we'll plan to have our Regionale ticket for the return to Venice in advance. I am thinking of taking the Frecciargento on the way there to save time, even tho' is is ( gasp) 5€ more than the Regionale. I'll walk up to the train station tomorrow and buy them while my husband is swimming at the Sant'Alvise pool.