Padua Is Italy’s Best Kept Secret

Is it possible to keep a secret in 2025? Surely the answer is no, as our lives are more public than ever. And yet Padua, Italy, may prove to be the rare exception. Tucked 40 kilometres west of Venice, this small city has quietly charmed the most discerning of travellers for years.

Brimming with 12th and 13th century gothic-style townhouses, sun-soaked cobblestone streets and a crowding of canals, Padua offers a kind of cinematic charm that rivals Europe’s best-known hot spots. Said to have been founded by the Trojans in 12th century BC, it’s believed to be the oldest city in Northern Italy and home to a treasure trove of religious relics such as frescos done by the famous Florentine artist Giotto, and the marble tomb of Saint Anthony.

Where Venice can sometimes feel like a theme park, the same can’t be said about this Northern Italian town. And not just because it’s home to the University of Padua and a large swarm of students. There’s an undeniable ease to Padua. Life feels unhurried here—no one’s trying too hard, in both work and their wardrobes. Expect to see colourful cashmere sweaters and skinny Puma sneakers paired with breezy trench coats. And, naturally, there’s no shortage of buttery leather handbags, each more delicious-looking than the next.

Whether you’re seeking a short respite from the tourists of Venice or need another stop to add to your Italy itinerary, FASHION is spilling the secrets on what to see, eat and do in Padua, Italy.

Where to Stay

Hotel Grand’Italia

If the Hotel Grand’Italia looks rich enough to house royalty, that’s because it, well, did. Built in 1907, the former palace was the original residence of Guglielmo Folchi, who was bestowed with the honour of becoming Cavaliere del Lavoro (Knightly Order of Merit for Labour).

Over 100 years (and extensive renovations) later, the original art nouveau flourishes are still intact and set this hotel apart from your average Hilton. The gilded ballroom now doubles as a boardroom. The junior suite has been restored to spotlight the original architecture. And the lobby is punctuated by a grandioso helicoidal staircase made of white Carrara marble and elegant wrought iron, adorned with a red carpet and velvet rope—of course.

Where to Eat

Ristorante Belle Parti

Similar to Venetian cuisine, Padovani plates are primarily seafood-based. As such, consider indulging in scallops and shrimp a rite of passage. The freshness of the ones found at Ristorante Belle Parti cannot be overstated. Deliciously creamy and unexpectedly light, the mini crustaceans tasted more akin to lobster or crab than any prawns I’ve ever had. Also to be enjoyed are the seafood ravioli starter (only in Italy can pasta be considered an appetizer), corn-fed chicken breast and tiramisu where the chef whimsically layers the ladyfingers and mascarpone on your plate in real time. Make sure to have your phone ready!

Where to Shop

Vintage Shops

To be sure, there’s your usual sampling of luxury shops like Gucci and Prada but the real ones know that the true gems of Padua can be found in its vintage boutiques—and there are a lot of them! Between Vintage Store Padova, Luce Vintage Clothing, Margi Vintage & Luxury and others, you’ll find a variety of price points and designers. But be warned—sizing does run small (not including shoes). Whilst wandering the cobblestone streets, a fellow editor found a pair of pointy-toed Etro pumps for under €200. The best souvenir you can ask for.

Where to Caffeinate

Caffè Pedrocchi

How much coffee is too much coffee? In Italy, the limit does not exist. While there are any number of caffeinated institutions to indulge in, no other place has the history of Caffè Pedrocchi. Celebrating its 200th year, the coffee shop was created in 1831 when Antonio Pedrocchi, a famous coffee maker from Bergamo, decided to create “the most beautiful café on Earth” in the centre of Padua. Since then, the brand has spent the last few centuries perfecting its brew and expanding into to-die-for pastries and an equally impressive restaurant. No trip would be complete without trying Caffè Pedrocchi’s famous mint coffee which tastes like a subtler peppermint mocha. Starbucks could never.

Where to Visit

Scrovegni Chapel and Basilica of Saint Anthony of Padua

In any major Italian city, you run the risk of chapel fatigue—that moment when an overzealous tour guide or well-meaning relative plans a dozen basilica visits based on a few too many TripAdvisor reviews. Luckily in Padua, that’s not an issue. What the city lacks in quantity, it more than makes up for in quality.

Often considered Giotto’s true masterpiece, Scrovegni Chapel is a must-see. While it only took the Italian artist/architect two years to complete (1303–1305), the chapel’s vibrant colours are almost otherworldly. Nearly 720 years later, the deep blue ceiling and hundreds of frescoes still feel impossibly vivid, like they’ve somehow escaped the passage of time.

I also recommend journeying to the Basilica of Saint Anthony of Padua. The exterior may look austere, but step inside and the atmosphere shifts. The Chapel of Saint Anthony is among the most opulent spaces I’ve ever seen, with the saint’s tomb surrounded by white marble and shimmering gold leaf. Venture deeper and you’ll find the Chapel of Relics, where rays of sunlight seem frozen mid-beam on the ceiling—a dreamy, painted sky that somehow makes the whole space feel lighter, warmer and completely surreal.