Venice ~ Padua

PADUA  or ( Padova )

A delightful Italian city in the Veneto Region,with a university that is amongst the oldest and most renowned in Europe,dating back to 1222.

Padua came under Venetian Republic in 1405 and remained till 1797= 392 years, when Padua was occupied by the Austrians, after the fall of Napoleon in 1814,Padua became part of the Kingdom of Lombardy until 1866 when with the rest of the Venetian region was united to the New Italy

Padua was affected by both World Wars,the Armistice was signed here on 3 November 1918. After the second World War ,the University was awarded the Gold Medal for Military Valour when many students and lectures lost their lives in support of the Partisan during the Germans occupation of the city .

Padua University

Founded in 1222,is amongst one of the oldest university in Europe,Giotto, Donatello, Galileo Galilei taught in this university. The university was the first medical school in Europe to have a clinical medical ward.  The first woman in the world to gratuate from the university was (Elena Lucrezia in 1678) graduated in philosophy. Padua university hosts the oldest botanic gardens in the world 1545 also the oldest Anatomy Theatre 1594.

St Anthony of Padua

St Anthony was born in Lisbon 1195 and died at the Poor Clare convent at Arcella near Padua on 13 June 1231,he was canonized by Pope Gregory IX 1232. St Anthony tomb lies behind the main altar in the basilica,his body was moved here in 1263.  St Anthony is the Patron Saint of the poor and oppressed and is often invoked to help find lost objects.