Historic Centre

Padova

Historic Centre which includes signage and shopping
Prato della Valle which includes a garden, a statue or sculpture and a river or creek
Basilica di Sant\'Antonio da Padova featuring a statue or sculpture, heritage elements and religious aspects
La Specola Observatory featuring landscape views, a city and a river or creek
Basilica di Sant\'Antonio da Padova which includes a church or cathedral, heritage elements and heritage architecture

Delve into Padova’s compact historic heart and find a remarkable collection of architectural and cultural landmarks, connected by twisting cobbled streets and broad piazzas.

Padova’s Historic Centre (Centro Storico) is enriched by the city’s preserved monuments and modern energy. Get involved with the daily action of the city with lively markets, shops, cafés and bars.

The enormous Palazzo della Ragione dominates the district. Built in 1218, this imposing structure formerly housed the city court and a marketplace. The palace is surrounded by three major squares: Piazza delle Erbe, Piazza della Frutta and Piazza dei Signori. Wander around the piazzas to find Padova’s daily markets, which have been operating without interruption on this site for more than eight centuries.

Continue exploring to find Palazzo del Bò, the historic home of Padova’s university. The University Botanical Garden is among the world’s oldest botanic displays and is a UNESCO World Heritage-listed site.

Another impressive structure in Padova’s historic skyline is St. Anthony’s Basilica, a Byzantine-influenced Romanesque edifice built to house the saint’s remains. Nearby, St. George’s Oratory contains an exquisite collection of frescoes. See one of the city’s most prized frescoes in Scrovegni Chapel, which is connected to the Eremitani Civic Museums and the 13th-century Church of the Eremitani.

Don’t miss a visit to one of Europe’s largest town squares, Prato della Valle. Formerly a Roman theater, this 18th-century masterpiece features a canal lined with statues. The scene is completed by the superb architecture of the adjoining Basilica of St. Giustina. See Michelangelo’s touch in the interior design of Padova’s Duomo, which also has a beautiful baptistery. Explore the winding alleys of the Jewish Quarter and find a collection of art galleries and workshops.

The Historic Centre in Padova is the heart of the city and easy to reach via light rail and bus however, it is best explored on foot. Stop off in the district’s bars, cafés and restaurants for quick refreshments or a meal. As evening falls, head to one of the Historic Centre’s piazzas to enjoy an Aperol spritz or other aperitif with the locals.


Popular places to visit

Things to do


Top hotels in Historic Centre

Donatello

Donatello

3 out of 5
Via del Santo, 102/104, Padova, PD
The price is P4,516 per night from Aug 26 to Aug 27
P4,516
P5,299 total
Aug 26 - Aug 27
includes taxes & fees
Stay at this 3-star hotel in Padova. Enjoy free breakfast, free WiFi, and a 24-hour front desk. Our guests praise the helpful staff and the property condition ...
8.6/10 Excellent! (259 reviews)
"A very scenic location and we had the luck of having a view over towards the basilica. Rooms were very clean and spacious. Absolutely loved the place"

Reviewed on Jul 10, 2025

Donatello
Hotel Casa del Pellegrino

Hotel Casa del Pellegrino

3 out of 5
Via Melchiorre Cesarotti 21, Padova, PD
The price is P4,071 per night from Aug 27 to Aug 28
P4,071
P4,810 total
Aug 27 - Aug 28
includes taxes & fees
Stay at this 3-star hotel in Padova. Enjoy free WiFi, breakfast (surcharge), and parking (surcharge). Our guests praise the helpful staff and the clean rooms ...
8.4/10 Very Good! (995 reviews)
"Very clean, helpful staff, good location."

Reviewed on Aug 16, 2025

Hotel Casa del Pellegrino
Hilton Garden Inn Padova City Centre

Hilton Garden Inn Padova City Centre

4 out of 5
Corso Milano 40, Padova, PD
The price is P6,761 per night from Aug 29 to Aug 30
P6,761
P8,632 total
Aug 29 - Aug 30
includes taxes & fees
Stay at this 4-star business-friendly hotel in Padova. Enjoy free WiFi, breakfast (surcharge), and room service. Popular attractions Basilica of Saint Anthony ...
9.2/10 Wonderful! (83 reviews)
Great Hotel!!
"Highly recommend the hotel!!"

Reviewed on Jul 30, 2025

Hilton Garden Inn Padova City Centre
Hotel Europa

Hotel Europa

4 out of 5
Largo Europa 9, Padova, PD
The price is P6,640 per night from Aug 23 to Aug 24
P6,640
P7,768 total
Aug 23 - Aug 24
includes taxes & fees
Stay at this 4-star business-friendly hotel in Padova. Enjoy free WiFi, room service, and a fitness center. Popular attractions Basilica of Saint Anthony of ...
8.2/10 Very Good! (351 reviews)
"They allowed us to have a late checkout, which was very convenient since we had a late train."

Reviewed on Jul 12, 2025

Hotel Europa
Hotel Giotto

Hotel Giotto

3 out of 5
P.le Pontecorvo 33, Padova, PD
The price is P3,622 per night from Aug 29 to Aug 30
P3,622
P4,316 total
Aug 29 - Aug 30
includes taxes & fees
Stay at this 3-star hotel in Padova. Enjoy free WiFi, breakfast (surcharge), and room service. Popular attractions Basilica of Saint Anthony of Padua and Loggia ...
8.2/10 Very Good! (266 reviews)
family stay
"This is a great place to stay in Padova, conveniently located near all the main attractions. The hotel staff are very friendly, and the on-site parking was easy to use. The rooms were spotless and well maintained."

Reviewed on Aug 7, 2025

Hotel Giotto
Majestic Toscanelli

Majestic Toscanelli

4 out of 5
Via Dell'Arco 2, Padova, PD
The price is P7,726 per night from Aug 22 to Aug 23
P7,726
P8,964 total
Aug 22 - Aug 23
includes taxes & fees
Stay at this 4-star family-friendly hotel in Padova. Enjoy free WiFi, breakfast (surcharge), and room service. Our guests praise the helpful staff in our reviews. ...
8.6/10 Excellent! (350 reviews)
"This hotel has a perfect central location, has friendly and helpful staff, and it served the best breakfast buffet of our trip! Our room was spacious and clean, we were a block off the main pedestrian street and in the heart of the historic area. The room was stocked with all of the amenities, something ..."

Reviewed on Aug 15, 2025

Majestic Toscanelli
Lowest nightly price found within the past 24 hours based on a 1 night stay for 2 adults. Prices and availability subject to change. Additional terms may apply.

Other neighbourhoods around Historic Centre

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City Center Padova

Unique features of City Center Padova include the historic sites and cafes. Make a stop by Piazza del Duomo or Padua Cathedral while you're exploring the area.

City Center Padova
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Arcella

Though Arcella might not have many top sights, you can venture to the surrounding area to see attractions like Palazzo di Giustizia di Padova and Scrovegni Chapel.

Arcella
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Guizza

Guizza might not have many top sights, but Prato della Valle and Basilica of Saint Anthony of Padua are two attractions nearby that you can check out.

Guizza

Historic Centre