Padua Attractions, Italy

Basilica of Sant'Antonio
Southwest of the university in Padua, beyond the wide modern streets (Riviera Vittorio Tito and Riviera dei Ponti Romani) built over an arm of the Bacchiglione, is the Prefecture. In front of this is a medieval sarcophagus (1233), popularly called the Tomb of Antenor, the mythical founder of Padua. To the east is the Via del Santo, which runs south to the Piazza del Santo, with the church of Sant'Antonio (Basilica del Santo), known as "il Santo" for short, containing the Tomb of St Antony of Padua, a shrine visited by countless pilgrims.
The massive structure (13th-14th century), a pillared basilica which shows a fantastic mingling of Romanesque, Gothic and Byzantine features, is highly picturesque, with its two slender towers, the conical dome over the crossing and seven other round domes (heightened in 1424). The interior contains interesting works of art.
In the north aisle is the Cappella di Sant'Antonio (1500-46), with nine 16th century high reliefs (scenes from the life of St Antony, by Jacopo Sansovino, Antonio and Tullio Lombardi and others); within the altar, hung with numerous ex-votos, are the saint's remains. The high altar, originally by Donatello (1443-50), was subsequently removed but restored in 1895 with the original sculpture (angel musicians, entombment and bronze figures by Donatello). On the left of the altar is a magnificent bronze candelabrum by Briosco (1507-15). Beyond the ambulatory in the Cappella del Tesoro or Cappella delle Reliquie (1690) are fine examples of goldsmith's work. On the south side of the church are four beautiful cloisters (13th-16th century), the first of which in particular contains many old gravestones.

Equestrian Statue of Gattamelata
To the side of the church stands the equestrian statue of Gattamelata. Donatello, the talented sculptor of the Early Renaissance, who worked in Padua from 1441 to 1453, created the bronze statue between 1447 and 1453 in honor of Erasmo da Narni. The latter was commander-in-chief of the Venetian army (against Milan) and his diplomatic skill earned him the name of "Gattamelata" (spotted cat).

Cappella degli Scrovegni (photo - right)
Immediately north of the church is the chapel of the Madonna dell' Arena, built in 1303-05 as the chapel of a palace which was demolished around 1820; the chapel is also known as the Cappella degli Scrovegni, and contains Giotto's splendid frescoes (scenes from the life of the Virgin and the life of Christ; 1303-06), which are his earliest, largest and best preserved work. Particularly fine are the "Kiss of Judas" and the "Lamentation" in the third row, depicting the Passion with great dramatic force. On the altar is a "Madonna with Two Angels", a fine statue by Giovanni Pisano.

Salone
From the university two streets run west, leading respectively to the Piazza delle Frutta and the Piazza delle Erbe. Between the two squares we find the Salone or Palazzo della Ragione, built 1218-19 as a law court, now an exhibition and conference hall (entrance from the Piazza delle Erbe, on the right). The huge hall, rebuilt in 1430, contains a large wooden horse (c. 1466), a copy of Gattamelata's horse in Donatello's famous statue, and astrological frescoes (15th century restored) on the walls.
 

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