How's Vincenza?
Trying to decide between Vincenza and Padua, and I'm looking for the prettier, more walkable town.
All I know about Vincenza is that its famous for its Palladian architecture while Padua was bombed heavily during WW2.
But, is the entire town of Vincenza architecturally pretty, or is just the scattered Palladian buildings that are pretty while the rest of the town is just okay?
I like Vicenza. Pleasant, good music, nice market, a good coffee place, good for exploring nearby.
I was there a week. Not rally enough. I was just pruning my Jasmine - a souvenir of my visit.
Personally, I prefer Vicenza - others may take the opposite view.
Hi Josh, I’ve been to both: Padova for a 5-night stay & Vicenza for a 1-night stay. My husband & I both preferred Padova for things to do and the size of the city. We walked all over Vicenza and also out to some of the Palladian more famous sites.
Vincenza is OK, but not a top tier visit in my opinion.
Verona and Padua are better.
Ravenna is a must see.
Vincernza was a big, wonderful surprise for me. Padova also. Padova is also busier, if that matters. Vincenza was a place that I enjoyed the time in-between the sites. Just walking the streets was plenty of entertainment. Food was amazing (hey, it is Italy afterall). Much slower pace than the bigger cities. I stayed in a VRBO apartment that had a beautiful rooftop view and plenty of church bells. Down side: getting from the train station to the apartment. Taxis don't line up waiting for you. Google maps sent me in what my hostess said was the longest way to get from one to the other. I'd still go back for at least another 3 or 4 nights.
Vincenza! To us, it is more of a "real" town, while Padua is more of a tourist destination. Don't misunderstand, Padua is great, but we just found it to be more crowded. I suppose that one could just toss a coin, and not be disappointed in either one. Of course, if you have enough time, why not spend several days in each? Enjoy whichever you choose.
If your mean this Vincenza, I would definitely say that is worth visiting.
If instead you mean the city of Vicenza (without the first 'n'), then it might still be worthwhile a visit, especially if you like Palladian architecture. The Vicentini people are known for being "magnagatti" (cat eaters), so it could be an opportunity to expand your culinary knowledge of Italy as well.
There's a lot more to see in Padua. I'd recommend it more highly unless you are a special fan of Palladian architecture. But Vicenza is totally worth visiting, and if your time is short and you'll be passing through or near it, it might be a more practical option for you.
We were just visiting both last October. Padua was larger and had more to see.
