The document summarizes 3 beautiful places to see in Padua, Italy. The Clock Tower in Piazza dei Signori square dates back to the 15th century and tells time as well as the phases of the moon and zodiac signs. The Padua Baptistery may look humble compared to the cathedral, but contains stunning 14th century frescoes, though they were damaged by political conflicts. Prato della Valle square is the largest in Italy and was the site of ancient Roman ruins and early 17th century opera festivals, making it the birthplace of modern opera.

1. 3 of the most beautiful places in Padua
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Here’re some top places to see in Padua; after all, it’s a lovely place for a day trip from either Venice or Florence!
The Clock Tower:
The Piazza dei Signori is spacious and light, as it should be; after all, it had been initially designed for tournaments
and celebrations, and was known in its time as the Square of Triumphs. Now that the days of jousting are over, the
Piazza plays host to various concerts and music festivals. However, the square is still dominated by one magnificent
construction: the Torre dell’Orologio, translated somewhat understatedly as the Clock Tower.
This construction of pristine white stone, built in the 15th century, has seen the flowering of the Renaissance, the
revolution of the Enlightenment, and the horror of two World Wars.
The astronomical clock commemorates the age, when the measures of time were still uncertain, and when the
human life was thought to be governed by a myriad of supernatural factors – including the movement of heavenly
bodies. Apart from the hours and minutes, the clock also indicates the phases of the moon, and zodiac signs can be
seen running around its inner face.
However, this sublime monument also bears some imprints of the affairs much more earthly. The lofty inscription in
Latin is dedicated to the Venetian Doge, Andrea Gritti; there’s also a bas-relief of the winged lion. This was the
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2. depiction I was more used to seeing in a certain city with a bit more canals and a lot more tourists.
These are the remains of the Venetian attempt to carve out a small empire on the terra firma, once their maritime
dominion started crumbling. This little colonial experiment was, of course, overshadowed by the imperialism galore
of the later centuries. However, the white stone remembers, the tower shining as starkly against the dense blue of
Italian sky, as if it was erected yesterday.
Padua Baptistery:
This church, dedicated to St. John the Baptist, looks especially humble next to the city’s grand cathedral, in whose
shadow it sat for the last seven centuries. However, try not to skip it; more than anything, it resembles a plain
jewelry-box, containing unimaginable treasures. Inside, you will see an explosion of colour – a magnificent fresco
cycle, undimmed since its creation in the 14th century.
Even this thing of beauty didn’t escape the political upheavals of the outside world, though. Initially, the baptistery
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3. was designed as a mausoleum for the local rulers, the House of Carrara. However, after their power fell in 1405,
and the city succumbed to the Venetian Republic, the soldiers of La Serenissima demolished the grand burial
monuments and covered the numerous emblems of the Carrara with green paint. The restoration attempts began in
the 20th century and are going on to this day.
Prato della Valle:
This is a peculiar place, really; the largest square in Italy (about 90,000 square meter), situated so far from the
major tourist centers. Were it located in Rome, there would’ve been hordes of tourists on any day of the week. As it
is, I was greeted by the stillness of the black canal water and the serenity of the marble statues, enclosing it in two
rings.
This vision of classical grace has been brought about only in 1785. However, it has a startling precursor – the
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4. preliminary excavations revealed the remains of an ancient Roman theater.
There really must be something in the soil, because, when this place was still an expanse of swampy marshland, it
managed to become the birthplace of modern opera. In 1636, Venetian noblemen used to organize musical
entertainment there as a prologue to jousting. These amateur festivals are considered to be the immediate
predecessor of the first public opera performances, which began in Venice itself the following year.
Looking for a place to stay in Padua? Here’re some options.
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