Tuesday 1 October 2013

DAY 84: PADUA

TODAY we are travelling to Umbria, the wild cousin of Tuscany.
The two green regions are the most popular in Italy for tourists.
But where Tuscany has the gently rolling hills, Umbria's are bolder, bigger and all-encompassing as our Globus coach travels down the highway.
The region is considered the green heart of Italy.
And like Tuscany, where we visited the quirky San Gimignano, Umbria has its share of mountaintop villages and medieval walled cities (like UNESCO World Heritage-Listed Assisi, the home of  St Francis with its basilica and pink limestone buildings, where we will spend the night).
We're not quite finished with Venetto yet, though. 
Our first stop is Pedrocchi  Cafe, which opened in Padua in 1831, where our guide Simonetta promises us "super-excellent coffee" for morning tea.
The layered espresso, mint cream, whipped cream and cocoa is the house specialty we try as part of the local flavours experiences we have been enjoying in each region.
"Don't add sugar or mix it," Simonetta warns.
"You drink it slowly slowly because it will be a pleasure for your mouth."
And it surely is ... but more like a sweet, minty dessert than your average coffee.
Pedrocchi Cafe has always been an important social hub in a strategic location in the city, with a campus of Padua University close by to left and city hall to the right.
Padua is quite a large city - the third-largest in Venetto with about 214,000. If the surrounding area is included, that figure nearly doubles to 400,000.
The renowned university was founded in 1222 and is one of the oldest in Europe. The faculty of psychology is very well-respected and Galileo Galilei was awarded the chair of mathematics and taught there for 18 years from 1592.
St Anthony of Padua is buried in the Padua Basilica, where the Chapel of the Holy Relics includes his tongue (found 750 years ago this year), vocal chords and jaw.
Middle of the Valley Square (Prato della Valle) is the largest in Italy with more statues of famous citizens than you can see in one quick peruse of the area.
Bridges, a canal, fountain and soft green grass makes this a pleasant place to stroll or picnic. If only we had more time ...

Lesson of the day: Tour buses aren't for snoozing or using your iPad but for seeing as much spectacular scenery as possible.


















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