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Padua

Mayor

Sergio Giordani

Biography

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According to the legend, Padua was founded in 1185 B.C. by the mythical warrior Antenor, who, having escaped from the fall of Troy, led the allied people of Eneti or Veneti from Paphlagonia (northern Turkey) along Dalmatia to the mouth of the River Brenta. They settled down in the area already inhabited by the Euganei (the surrounding volcanic hills took the name of “Euganean Hills” from them). The Veneti founded the village of Padus (a greek word meaning ‘marsh’) in a land rich in canals and small branches of the two bigger rivers, Brenta and Bacchiglione, which still cross the town. Thanks to this position on the middle of a confluence of communication ways it became soon a big commercial and manufacturing centre, renowned for horse breeding and production of wool.

The University of Padua was founded in 1222. It was a free and “democratic” University, the only in Europe to be ruled by students and to accept Jewish students as well as the first she-student in the world. In fact its motto was and remains “Universa Universis Patavina Libertas”.

In 1545 was founded the Botanical Garden of Padova, the oldest existing university botanical garden in the world. The Senate of the Venetian Republic approved its foundation for the cultivation of medicinal plants. Thanks to its great contribution to the development of many modern scientific disciplines, notably botany, medicine, chemistry, ecology, and pharmacy, it was inscribed in the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1997.

In 1797 Napoleon and its troops occupied Padua but after the Treaty of Campoformio the city was ceded to Austria. Then followed a very unstable period with continuous changes of power between the two invaders until 1815 when it became part of the newly formed Kingdom of Lombard-Veneto, part of the Austrian Empire.

Rising against the Habsburgic invaders, many students, intellectuals and professors of the University of Padua, who used to meet at Caffé Pedrocchi, on 8th February 1848 started a revolt which lasted only a few months but spurred Italian patriots and monarchy to start working to create the Kingdom of Italy and oppose the Austrian Empire. Thus, in 1866 Vittorio Emanuele II entered Padua and annexed it. From the Military Headquarters in town, General La Marmora sent Garibaldi the famous message to leave Tirol, to which Garibaldi replied with the famous one word telegram: “I obey!”

Padua had a very important role to play in World War I, both at the beginning, because the Supreme Command was moved here and at the end, because the armistice between Austria, Germany and Italy was signed on 3 November 1918 at Villa Giusti, on the outskirts of the town.

In the years immediately following the War, the city of Padua developed outside its historical boundaries and its population grew. New buildings were built in the typical fascist architectural style at the place of some Medieval poor houses.

Following Italy’s defeat in the Second World War, Padua became part of the Social Republic. It was bombed several times by Allied aircrafts and one of them destroyed one of the treasures of the Renaissance, the Ovetari Chapel frescoes by Mantegna, in the Eremitani Church.

The Scrovegni Chapel was saved by Paduans who completely covered it with sacks filled up with sand.

After the War, the city followed the rapid development of the Veneto Region, overturning its fame of poorest Region in northern Italy into the richest and most active area characterized by its small family businesses, who became the backbone of the local economy.

Source: Wikipedia

Italy / Padua / Culture and Tourism

Padua to honour first woman in history to get a PhD with a statue

Google had already paid respect to her with a Doodle back in 2019

Jan 04, 2022 12:54

Tzvetozar Vincent Iolov

Italy / Padua / Education and Sport / Public Spaces

Padua thinks of ways to keep public spaces busy after summer

These will become grounds for street sport activities

Jun 29, 2021 15:33

Tzvetozar Vincent Iolov

Italy / Padua / Economy and Finance / Mobility

Padua officials optimistic about unfolding of tram project

The mayor of the city expects approval for funding from European Recovery Plan

May 10, 2021 15:19

Tzvetozar Vincent Iolov

Italy / Padua / Development / Economy and Finance

Padua shows interest in the space economy

Efforts in developing it will center around the city’s Astronomic Observatory

May 06, 2021 10:00

Tzvetozar Vincent Iolov

Italy / Padua / Welfare and Health

Padua begins installing playgrounds suitable for all ages

Isolation is tough not only on kids but also on adults, so playtime is needed for all

Feb 10, 2021 17:34

Tzvetozar Vincent Iolov

Padua / Mobility

Padua with smart transport plan for the reopening of schools

The province is trialling intelligent ways for students to enter the city by using special shuttles and buses

Jun 30, 2020 08:42

Monika Dimitrova

Italy / Amalfi / Castelnovo Bariano / Milan / Padua / Parma / Perugia / Pescara / Rome / Turin / Venice / Politics and Reforms

Italian populists' wild ride

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Jul 02, 2019 15:43

Anton Stoyanov

Padua / Interviews

Innovation and research must be the engine of the economy of Padua in the future

“Padua is supporting the experimentation of a new local public transport system, sustainable, flexible, intelligent and adaptable to the needs of the city”

Apr 01, 2019 09:16

Monika Dimitrova

Padua / Mobility

Padua will develop a new system of sustainable, flexible and intelligent local transport

Through an application passengers can specify their mobility needs

Mar 05, 2019 12:11

Monika Dimitrova

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Fat Tuesday is celebrated today

Also known as Mardi Gras, this holiday is an important time marker between times of lavish festivities and temperance

Mar 03, 2019 07:28

Aseniya Dimitrova

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