Venice to the Veneto region: Private day trip

The picturesque city of Padova blends art, culture, nature, and spirituality in a unique mix. There are many churches, canals, and daily markets to explore. Padova’s largest tourist attraction is the Scrovegni Chapel (Cappella degli Scrovegni). This chapel is home to priceless frescoes by Giotto, considered one of the greatest artworks of all time. This is just one of eight buildings with masterwork 14th-century frescoes that make up Padua's UNESCO World Heritage Site. Another acclaimed attraction is The Basilica of St. Anthony of Padua. The basilica, dating back to 1232, is filled with magnificent art and is one of Christianity’s most popular shrines. The town center is lovely to explore and has many historic arcaded streets to wander. Parks and gardens are also plentiful. With all that, it’s clear that Padova (perhaps northern Italy’s oldest city) is worth a second glance.

Settled around 300 BC, the growing Roman presence eventually assimilated the original Paleo-Veneti inhabitants, and by 157 BC the city was a Roman centre. After the fall of Rome, it faced a tumultuous several centuries, being destroyed, sacked and dominated as they tried to navigate Italian politics. By the 16th century, it was one of the most downtrodden cities of the Veneto, but Andrea Palladio revitalized it, leaving many outstanding palaces and villas. Among his greatest achievements is the Olympic theatre, widely considered the first modern covered theatre. The arch-faced Basilica Palladiana shows one of the first examples of what have come to be known as the Palladian window. So great was Palladio's influence that the city even has a Palladio museum housed inside a Palladio palace. If you ever tire of his works, the city's many parks churches offer beautiful and quiet spaces to escape to.