Padova

Saturday 7 September

So, Election Day in Australia. No doubt a new PM by the time the day is out - which is probably about now as it 8.30 a.m. here and 4.30 p.m. there.

We have been for a walk early. Shorter days here right now due to daylight saving. A bit dark still at 6.30 a.m. We walked to Il Portello on the Brenta Canal because we go there early tomorrow to take the boat to Venezia - and I just wanted to check it was do-able (and how much time to allow) as it is about a 2 km walk (with bags).

Now back at our B&B having breakfast in the garden outside. Very nice. Molto bene.

Yesterday, we walked in to the centre of Padova & wandered around the market (which is said to be one of Italy's finest) in the Piazza delle Erbe and the Piazza della Frutta. We bought tomatoes for lunch and an immense number of plums - susini (1 kg for 1 €); also some cheese (pecorino fresco).

Then to the nearby Caffè Pedrocchi for a coffee. When it first opened in 1831, it was the largest cafe in Europe and was a favourite with students, poets and intellectuals. Although heavily damaged during World War II, it has been completely rebuilt.

After a visit to the bank for money, we walked to the Chiesa degli Eremitani built in 1276-1306 and bombed in 1944 in the war. It suffered a huge amount of damage & some of the 15th century frescoes have been lovingly restored.

Nearby is the famous Cappella degli Scrovegni. More about this later. You have to book tickets online for this so we collected our tickets for our 6 p.m. visit later in the day.

By now it was about 1 p.m. We had a picnic in the nearby Arena gardens with our produce from the market plus bread and sliced meat left over from our supper the night before. It is hot now at this time of day - about 30 deg C. so we used our newly acquired Padova Card (which we had ordered with the tickets for the Cappella. This allows us 48 hours free access to buses and trams plus some free &/or discounted admissions to sights) to go back by bus to our B&B for A Rest - yes, a Nanna Nap! - especially as I had been awake since 3 a.m.!!

Duly rested, we set off again about 4 p.m. for the Cappella back in town. This time we took a tram as it was very hot! Good to use the transport. We had enough time to visit the Palazzo Zuckerman, a decorative arts museum, which was surprisingly interesting and so actually took us longer than expected - so I was pleased we arrived early enough.

La Cappella degli Scrovegni was commissioned in 1303 and the famous artist Giotti frescoed the entire interior in the most extraordinary biblical works that are regarded as masterpieces of the Renaissance. Entry is carefully monitored to reduce damage by pollution so numbers are limited to groups of 25 and one enters as a group at the pre-arranged time via a specially designed air-conditioned waiting room.

Afterwards, we walked back via Piazza Cavour and the markets where we had been earlier in the day - but which were now packed up - and had dinner at a nice osteria, then a gelato after, enroute home.

On the way we crossed the amazing Prato della Valle (the largest square in Italy and one of the largest in the world). There was music and  some sort of a show going on, so we wandered across for a look and found a roller-skating concert in progress which seemed to be free (always a bonus!). We stayed for a couple of hours - absolutely wonderful with performers of quite high standard, great costumes and music. You had to pinch yourself you were here enjoying such a spectacle.

My Friend took the photo. As you can see, he's enjoying his new toy!

So quite a late night ultimately.