The small town has a huge historical heritage that is reflected in Padua's plethora of attractions. It is enough to walk into the city centre to find yourself in the heart of the city's ancient heritage, which literally makes you dizzy. For such occasions it is advisable to buy a Padua sightseeing guide with names. You might find yourself standing in one of the city's central squares: the Piazza Fruita or the Piazza de la Trava, where the market has been organised for centuries. Incidentally, at the end of Piazza del Trav, is the area where the Jewish ghetto, a closed and protected area, was enclosed for a long time.
But the first place all tourists rush to, even before buying a sightseeing map of Padua, is the Chapel of the Scrovegna in Piazza Eremitani, built between 1303 and 1305 and decorated with frescoes by Giotto. Nearby, you can take photos of Padua's sights at the ruins of an ancient Roman arena where gladiatorial fights took place.
Any sightseeing map of Padua will take you to the "café without doors" - the famous Café Pedrocchi. Its history dates back to 1772, when Francesco Pedrocchi opened a coffee shop on the premises. After his son Antonio inherited the establishment, he opened a 24-hour café there, for which it was nicknamed "without doors". The proximity to the local university played a part in the establishment's popularity and defined its place in the country's history. The local youths were stormed here by Austrian troops for their revolutionary sentiments, as the bullet marks on the walls still bear witness.
Speaking of the university, it's also a local landmark. One of the oldest universities in Europe is always on the list of descriptions of places of interest in Padua. It preserves the chair of Galileo Galilei, who taught here in 1592-1618. Also notable is the 16th century anatomical theatre and much more.
The sights of Padua in Russian will also lead tourists to other iconic sites: the 6th century Basilica of St. Giustina, the Basilica of St. Anthony which belongs to the Vatican State, the 7th century Cathedral of St. Mary the Intercessor and many more. Many of these sights are on the Prato della Valle, the oval and largest square in the city, which acquired its present form in the 18th century.
