European Tour – Day 2 – Padua, Italy

Rich and Vally recommended Padua today. It is the home of the second oldest university in Italy, 1222 AD, and one of the largest city squares in Europe, the Prato della Valle. After parking, we walked through an old building that used to be a slaughter house, now transformed into a nice restaurant, and into the square. There was a local fest going on and we dove right in to get lunch at the tent. They were making fresh pasta with a group of volunteers pressing the dough through manual screw presses. We tried some of that with a vegetable marinara and some fresh mozzarella and tomatoes. Rich went for a plate of the local seafood and fries. All excellent.

We proceeded on to a walking tour of the city and stopped at the Basilica of St. Anthony with its original frescos and beauty. We enjoyed the sights and artifacts including St Anthony’s voice box, tongue, and lower jaw (he was known for his excellent sermons and care for the sick and the poor). The cloisters were so beautiful and quiet.

Vally had another appointment and we continued with Rich for a guided tour of the university of Padua (Vally’s alma mater). Galileo lectured there for 18 years and stood on the podium pictured below. Padua was the original medical university, and included the first medical operation viewing room. An impressive tour.

We finished up in Padua with a spritz and a gelato before going back for a bbq dinner.