Southwest of the university in Padua, beyond the wide modern streets (Riviera Vittorio Tito and Riviera dei Ponti Romani) built over an arm of the Bacchiglione, is the Prefecture. In front of this is a medieval sarcophagus (1233), popularly called the Tomb of Antenor, the mythical founder of Padua. To the east is the Via del Santo, which runs south to the Piazza del Santo, with the church of Sant'Antonio (Basilica del Santo), known as "il Santo" for short, containing the Tomb of St Antony of Padua, a shrine visited by countless pilgrims.
The massive structure (13th-14th century), a pillared basilica which shows a fantastic mingling of Romanesque, Gothic and Byzantine features, is highly picturesque, with its two slender towers, the conical dome over the crossing and seven other round domes (heightened in 1424). The interior contains interesting works of art.
In the north aisle is the Cappella di Sant'Antonio (1500-46), with nine 16th century high reliefs (scenes from the life of St Antony, by Jacopo Sansovino, Antonio and Tullio Lombardi and others); within the altar, hung with numerous ex-votos, are the saint's remains. The high altar, originally by Donatello (1443-50), was subsequently removed but restored in 1895 with the original sculpture (angel musicians, entombment and bronze figures by Donatello). On the left of the altar is a magnificent bronze candelabrum by Briosco (1507-15). Beyond the ambulatory in the Cappella del Tesoro or Cappella delle Reliquie (1690) are fine examples of goldsmith's work. On the south side of the church are four beautiful cloisters (13th-16th century), the first of which in particular contains many old gravestones.
Rome
Venice
Florence
Milan
Naples
Padua Map
