Towards the end of the visit to Palazzo Bo, you see the statue of Elena Lucrezia Cornaro Piscopia. She was the first woman in the world to ever graduate from a university. Elena received her Doctor of Philosophy degree from the University of Padua in 1678. The statue, behind protective glass, is the work of…
Author: rchabala
I am 56 years old. I live in New York City and for the last 11 years, have been traveling to Italy at least twice every year. I love everything Italian. From the art and museums to the people, to the incredible food, my heart skips a beat when I think of Italy, and the many places and things that I've been lucky enough to experience. Now, I want to share my excitement and passion with the world. I will take you to both major Italian cities, and small mountain villages. I will talk about things to do in these places, and places to explore which are off of the beaten path. I will also talk about the restaurants that I've dined in, and the places that I lay my head down in, while staying in each of these locations.
Padua – Day 2 – Part 3 – An Afternoon at The University
The Ponte Molino, pictured above, is one of the oldest functioning bridges, as it dates from the 1st century BC. The bridge was restored once, in the Middle Ages, and then again in the 19th century. It was built to provide access over the Bacchiglione River, as it winds its way through the city. In…
Padua – Day 2 – Part 2 – Monuments, A Water Tank, and A Tower
Directly across the street from our apartment, there was the monument designed by Daniel Libeskind, Memoria e Luce, dedicated to the victims of the terrorist attacks on September 11th, 2001. The monument is built around a piece of twisted beam from the World Trade Center. In the center of Piazza Mazzini, in a small park…
Padua – Day 2 – Part 1 – A Damp Morning, Full of History
Our second day in Padua began with a bit of rain. That did not stop us from getting outside and exploring. The Cassa di Risparmio del Veneto was one of the oldest savings banks in Italy, dating from 1822. The Porta Altinate was the main west gate of the city of Padua. It dates from…
Padua – Day 1 – Part 4 – A Great End to A First Day
The Chiesa di San Luca Evangelista is located on Via XX Settembre, and dates from 1320. Closed in 1807 under Napoleonic laws, it was reopened in 1815, and today, it is the parish of the Greek Catholic community in Padua. In 1655, Bartolomeo Cristofori, the famous harpsichord maker, and the inventor of the fortepiano (the…
Padua – Day 1 – Part 3 – The Duomo di Padua and More
We continued to explore the Museo Diocesano di Padova, and its rich collection of artistic treasures. One of the last rooms one enters, when visiting the Museo Diocesano, is the Sala San Gregorio Barbarigo, which is named after the former bishop of Padua. This room, used for conferences, is not always open to the public,…
Padua – Day 1 – Part 2 – The Diocesan Museum and More
As we began to explore the city of Padua, and clouds began to fill the sky, it became clear to us that this was a very unique place. While not being a large city like Rome, it was certainly not a village, and had more of a metropolitan feel about it. Historical buildings sat next…
Padua – Day 1 – Part 1 – A Canal Outside Our Door
Our next destination was the lovely city of Padua, or Padova, as it is known in Italian. We left Burano in the morning by a hired water taxi, using the same company that brought us to the island. This time, though, we had them take us directly to the Venice Train Station. There, we hopped…
Burano – Day 3 – Part 3 – Piazza Galuppi and the Chiesa Di San Martino
After lunch, back at the apartment, and followed by a brief nap, we headed out once again for our final stroll around the city. Before we did that, there was one more destination to hit, and that was the Chiesa di San Martino. In order to do that, we headed back to Piazza Galuppi. Baldassare…
Burano – Day 3 – Part 2 – The Museum of Lace and More of Lovely Burano
The Museo del Merletto, or the Lace Museum, may not sound like an exciting way to spend your time when in Burano, but I promise you, it is a visit you should make! Housed in the Palazzo del Podestà di Torcello, in Piazza Galuppi, the museum is set in the space formerly occupied by one…
Burano – Day 3 – Part 1 – Boatmakers and More!
A plaque marks the building where the Italian painter, Mario Vellani Marchi, lived. Marchi came to Burano in the 1920s, spending a few years here painting landscapes. He loved the town so much that, after World War II, he divided his time between Burano and Milan, where he died in 1979. Even though it may…
Burano – Day 2 – Part 8 – Burano After Dark
We made a reservation for dinner at a restaurant called Trattoria Al Gatto Nero. Founded in 1965 by Chef Ruggero Bovo, who still helms the kitchen today, this is one of the most popular restaurants in the town. Plates of raw, grilled, and fried fish were followed by delicious desserts and after-dinner drinks, making for…