Page 188 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Venice & The Veneto

186  THE VENE T O AREA B Y AREA

R Basilica di Sant’Antonio domes, rising above a façade
Piazza del Santo. Tel 049 822 56 52. that combines Gothic with
Open 7am–7:30pm daily. Romanesque elements. The
This exotic church, with its interior is more conventional,
minaret­like spires and Byzan tine however. Visitors are kept away
domes, is also known as Il Santo. from the high altar, which
It was begun in 1232 to house features Donatello’s magnificent
the remains of St Anthony of reliefs (1444–5) on the miracles
Padua, a preacher who modelled of St Anthony, and his statues
himself on St Francis of Assisi. of the Virgin, the Crucifixion and
Although he was a simple man several Paduan saints. There is
who rejected worldly wealth, the access to St Anthony’s tomb in
citizens of Padua built one of the the north transept, hung with
most lavish churches in Christen­ offerings and photographs of
dom to serve as his shrine. people who have survived
The outline reflects the influ­ serious illness or car crashes with
ence of Byzantine architec ture; the saint’s help. The walls around
The lofty interior of Padua’s a cone­shaped central dome is the shrine are decorated with
16th-century Duomo surrounded by a further seven large marble reliefs depicting
R Duomo and Baptistry
Baptistry: Tel 049 65 69 14.
Open 10am–6pm daily.
Closed Easter, 25 Dec. & ^
Padua’s Duomo was
commissioned from Michelan­
gelo in 1552, but his designs were
altered during the construction.
Of the 4th­century cathedral
which stood on the site, the
domed Romanesque Baptistry
still survives, with its frescoes by
Giusto de’ Menabuoi (c.1376).
The frescoes cover biblical stories,
such as the Creation, Christ’s
Passion, Crucifixion and Resurrec­
tion and the Last Judgment. The Basilica di Sant’Antonio and Donatello’s statue of Gattamelata

The Brenta Canal
The River Brenta, between Padua and the Venetian
Lagoon, was canalized in the 16th century. Flowing
for a total of 36 km (22 miles), its potential as a
transport route was quickly realized, and fine villas
were built along its length. Today, these elegant
buildings can still be admired. Three open their
doors to the public: the Villa Foscari at The picturesque town of Mira on the
Brenta Canal
Malcontenta, the Villa Widmann-Foscari Dolo
at Mira and the Villa Pisani at Stra. They Fiessa d’Artico
can be visited either on an 8- to 9-hour
guided tour from Padua to Venice
(or vice versa) along the river on
a motor launch, or by bus, a Padova
cheaper and faster alternative.

Key 1 Villa Pisani
This 18th­century villa
Tour route 0 kilometres 4 features an extravagant
Roads 0 miles 2 frescoed ceiling by Tiepolo.

For additional map symbols see back flap

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