Travel by train from Bologna to Padova from [PRICE] €

Emilia Romagna, the home of good food and the unmistakable cheerfulness of its inhabitants, is the ideal destination for a comfortable train trip: with Italo, you can easily reach Bologna and walk among its famous porticos and medieval palaces. Its cobblestone floors remind of its great medieval past, which harmonizes with its current modern character that makes it one of the most avant-garde Italian cities.

Bologna is home to one of the oldest universities in the world, which is why it has always been a privileged destination for Italian and international students, who have forged its cosmopolitan and friendly character. It is not a coincidence that Bologna also enjoys several affectionate nicknames that refer to its landmarks. Bologna la Grassa, in honor of its renowned culinary tradition; Bologna la Dotta, thanks to its university founded in 1088. Bologna la Rossa, a clear reference to the terracotta color of its historical palaces and porticos.

For a walk among its most beautiful places, you will have the embarrassment of choice: whether you are a cultural traveler, lover of museums and ancient churches, or more devoted to the good life among good food and entertainment, Bologna will not disappoint you. Start your itinerary from Piazza Maggiore, the seat of the Town Hall since 1336 and also celebrated by the most famous Bolognese songwriter, Lucio Dalla. Here you will find the Town Hall and the Municipal Art Collections inside, which will allow you to get an idea of the history and culture of the city from the 13th to the 19th century. From this square, the great covered path of the porticos starts, which winds through the old city for 40 kilometers and is a candidate to enter UNESCO's Heritage.

If you are in Bologna to appreciate its art, then the second must-see stop is the National Picture Gallery, which hosts some of the most important works of the Emilian artistic panorama such as Giotto, Parmigianino, the Carracci brothers and Raphael.

If you prefer to explore the center and maybe do some physical activity, what better opportunity to climb the famous Bolognese towers? The Asinelli Tower and the Garisenda Tower dominate Piazza Ravegnana and are the symbol of the city, built by the Asinelli family between 1109 and 1119. The Asinelli Tower, the highest with its 97 meters and 498 steps, is open to the public; visiting is recommended only if you do not suffer from vertigo or if you have already graduated... the urban legend says that climbing the tower brings bad luck to students who have not yet graduated!

To learn more about Bologna's religious itinerary and some of its most magnificent architectural works, start with the Abbey of Santo Stefano and the Gothic Basilica of San Petronio, which ranks 15th among the largest churches in the world.

Bologna's secular artisan and commercial tradition also makes it a privileged destination for shopping. The area with the highest concentration of commercial activity is the Quadrilatero, which historically houses numerous artisan shops, jewelers, markets, and local food shops. Finding this bustling commercial heart of the city is easy, starting from Piazza Maggiore, and heading into Via Rizzoli, Piazza della Mercanzia, Via Castiglione, Via Farini, Piazza Galvani and Via dell'Archiginnasio.

It is worth visiting Bologna just to taste its renowned cuisine: you are in the homeland of tortellini, ragù, mortadella... impossible to remain indifferent to the wide range of typical restaurants and osterias you will find at every corner of the city!

Finally, to appreciate the greener side of Bologna, you can get away from the center and treat yourself to some relaxation among the Bolognese hills. There are numerous public parks that can be accessed during an excursion outside the city, such as Parco Villa Spada, San Pellegrino or Villa delle Rose.

Now all you have to do is buy your Italo ticket and head to Bologna!

Exploring Veneto is easier by train: Italo takes you to Padova, the capital of Trecento painting, nestled a few km away from the nature of Colli Euganei and the Lagoon of Venice. Padova's natural location makes it the perfect destination for those seeking a destination rich in both natural and scenic beauty.

Start relaxing and from the train station, walk to the social heart of Padova, the triangle of the three most famous city squares: Piazza delle Erbe, Piazza della Frutta, and Piazza dei Signori. The latter is so named because it was home to the Palazzo della Signoria, the residence of the Lords of Padova in the 14th century, the Carraresi. Look up and admire the architectural wonder that surrounds you: the elegant historical buildings that surround the square, the Church of San Clemente, the Palazzo del Capitanio and the Clock Tower. On the street corner that connects Piazza dei Signori to the Cathedral, you can admire and enter the Council Loggia (also known as Gran Guardia), which in the 1400s was the palace where the city council met. Climb the long staircase, enter the patio with its seven arches and access the upper hall, decorated with a series of frescoes that depict legendary episodes of the city's life. Piazza della Frutta and Piazza delle Erbe immediately remind of their original utility, which still holds today: the traditional markets that animate the city every morning and where you can buy fresh fruit or a mid-day snack.

The discovery of the city's art continues in the nearby Cathedral and Baptistery. If you are a lover of literature, you can pay homage to one of the pillars of Italian literature, Francesco Petrarca, who was a canon of the Cathedral and has an honorary tomb here. The Baptistery in particular offers a unique experience of art in 360 degrees: at the end of the 14th century, Giusto De' Meanabuoi painted every inch of the walls inside up to the top of the dome with stories from Genesis and Apocalypse.

Another symbol square of Padova is the enormous elliptical Prato della Valle square, which is not only the largest of the city, but also one of the largest in Europe after Moscow's Red Square. You will reach it easily, always with a pleasant walk through the historic center, the typical shop streets and above all the ancient arcades that characterize the ancient shopping streets of Padova. Prato della Valle has always had recreational and commercial functions and it will not be difficult for you to find markets around it. The peculiar feature of this symbol of Padova is that it does not have a typical square configuration, but it is more like a monumental walkway among the 78 statues of characters from the past whose center is the Memmia Island, surrounded by a canal.

Since you are in the area, do not miss another symbol of Padova, destination of pilgrims from all over Italy and Europe, the Basilica of Sant'Antonio da Padova, called by the Padovans simply as Il Santo. Here are kept the relics of the Saint and his tomb, and it is worth visiting to admire its magnificence and its artistic and architectural wealth.

The cherry on top of an artistic itinerary in Padova remains then the Scrovegni Chapel, a 14th century chapel dedicated to the Annunciate Virgin. Its external architecture is very simple but what you will find inside will leave you breathless. Giotto decorated this Chapel making it famous all over the world with his cycle of paintings dedicated to Old and New Testament stories: all is overshadowed by an intense blue ceiling symbolizing the sky.

Now that you've had a feast of art, it's time to fill your stomach too! Start your Padovan enogastronomic journey by treating yourself first to a spritz, an aperitif invented in Padova, to nibble with some local salami. Delight yourself then with bigoli, the handmade thick spaghetti, or a dish based on white meat like the Padovan goose in gravy, to finish with a wide choice of Padovan sweets, like the sbrisolona cake or the Santo bread. Close the meal with a legendary coffee at Caffé Pedrocchi, also known as "without doors" because throughout the 1800s and until 1916 it remained open at any time of the day and night.

Don't wait any longer, buy your ticket on Italotreno now and come to discover Padova!