← Venice Marathon·1 night

Padua: One Night with Giotto and a Very Large Square

A university city a short train ride from Venice, with Giotto's frescoes, a vast elliptical square and arcaded streets on flat ground.

Duration1 night
TransitDirect train from Venezia Santa Lucia, about 30 to 50 min
DepartsVenezia Santa Lucia

After the Venice Marathon: One Night in Padua

The Route: Venezia Santa Lucia → Padova (1 night) → Venice → Marco Polo Airport (VCE) Logistics: Direct trains all day. Padua's centre is flat, and a tram links the station to the old town. Marathon Month: October Duration: 1 night

Venezia Santa Lucia ──(train ~30-50 mins)──> Padova
                                                │
              Marco Polo Airport (VCE) <──(bus / boat)── Venice <──(train)──┘

Padua is the unglamorous neighbour of Venice, and the lack of crowds is the point. The train from Venezia Santa Lucia takes about 30 minutes on a fast service and closer to 50 on a regional one, with departures every few minutes through the day. Regional fares are low, from about EUR 4 to EUR 6 (approximately GBP 3.40 to GBP 5.15) depending on the train, and fast services cost more. Check times and prices at trenitalia.com.

October in Padua. Autumn here is damp and grey, with fog common in the Po plain, and the arcaded streets mean you can walk much of the centre under cover. Pack a light waterproof. In most years the days are mild enough for a slow walk, though conditions vary.

Night One: The Old Centre

The centre is flat and largely pedestrian, with covered arcades along many streets. That makes it easy on sore legs, and a slow loop takes about an hour. Piazza delle Erbe and Piazza della Frutta sit on either side of the Palazzo della Ragione, the medieval hall, and the daily market stalls fill the squares in the morning.

The Scrovegni Chapel, painted by Giotto in the early 14th century, is the reason most people come. Entry is by timed ticket and the visit is short, so book ahead online and check the opening days. Prices change, so use any figure as a guide only. The Basilica of Saint Anthony, known locally as the Santo, is a big pilgrimage church with a lot of steps outside and plenty of seating inside.

Prato della Valle is one of the largest squares in Europe, an oval island ringed by a canal and lined with statues. It is flat, paved and a good place for a slow walk. The university botanical garden, founded in the 16th century, is nearby and is a calm place to end a morning, though opening hours vary by season.

Where to stay: Hotel Majestic Toscanelli is a hotel in the old centre close to the main squares. Hotel Donatello is near the Basilica of Saint Anthony and Prato della Valle, which suits a runner who wants level walking. Check rates and cancellation terms.

Where to eat: Padua has a student population, so there are plenty of simple trattorie and wine bars in the squares and side streets. Ask for local dishes such as bigoli, a thick pasta, or risotto, and look for a spritz at the aperitivo hour in Piazza delle Erbe. Book dinner if you want a specific place and check opening days.

Day Two and Return

Spend the morning at the market or the botanical garden, then take a train back to Venice. For a UK flight from Marco Polo Airport, take the train to Venezia Mestre or Santa Lucia and a bus or boat to the airport, and check the times before relying on them. For an early flight, stay near the airport or in Mestre for the last night instead.