When you travel to Venice, you tend to get lost in Venice, and for good reason, as this is a city that is one of the most famous in the world. While I had been to Venice more than once, I had never really ventured to communities nearby during my travels despite the fact that I had always wanted to do so. Recently, I stumbled upon an opportunity to see another city that has always interested me. That city is Padua, and I not only wanted to see Padua but the communities that surrounded it as well. All I had to do to make sure that I was able to make this trip was find a hotel room in Padua within 5 minutes or so. I wasn’t sure I could pull this off, but I was sure going to try, as you don’t walk into chances like this one very often in life.
I grabbed my phone, opened HotelTonight and searched for Padua hotels. I was very impressed with the number of choices presented. I picked a hotel that looked right for me based on several individual criteria. I had my Padua hotel room booked and confirmed after a few taps and swipes. I was all set and ready to go explore Padua and the towns that surrounded it. All I needed to do now was a bit of research to give me some ideas on where to go and what to see during my one-day adventure here.
I started my exploration, of course, in the City Centre of Padua. Padua itself is home to approximately 200,000 people, but interestingly enough this is really a college town as we refer to it in the United States. The University of Padua dominates this city, and it was founded in 1222. That’s right, Padua University is nearly 800 years old, and it’s one of the most renowned and respected institutions of higher learning in the world. Walking around campus here is a remarkable experience, and I kept wondering about how many legendary minds spent time here over the centuries. It was a fascinating experience to see such a place.
I ventured about 5 miles outside of Padua for my next stop, which was a lovely municipality known as Ponte San Nicolò. About 12,000 people live here, and it’s a very nice look at what life is like for the folks who live in this part of the world. This is not a tourist center, but I always welcome seeing such places as it helps you get to know the culture a bit more. I stopped at a sidewalk cafe here and had a very nice cup of cappuccino along with some sweet treats that gave me a nice boost of energy for the rest of my exciting day.
I kept moving in a bit of a circle around Padua for my next stop, which was Ponte di Brenta. Ponte di Brenta is another small community that provides a glimpse into the daily lives of the locals. It’s also historically significant as a bridge was built here in 1191 that helped to connect Padua with Venice, opening the entire region. I looked at a lot of old buildings and realized that I was starving. I asked a very nice local man where I should go for lunch, and he helped me find a place that was definitely not flashy or noticeable for those who would not recognize it otherwise. I stopped in and had an absolutely delicious lunch of salad and pasta along with a very nice glass of wine. I loved every second of it.
After a nice loop around the city, I came back into Padua to finish my day. I found some shops and filled a few bags with gifts, and then I looked around a bit for a nice place to eat dinner. I found one that served more local fare and local wine, and I could not have been happier with my choice. As I sat and ate and drank and enjoyed my experience, I scrolled through my phone to look at some of the photos I had taken. There were a few that I was sure I would treasure for the rest of my life.
My thoughts drifted to HotelTonight, the new app that I had installed on my phone and the one that had helped me find a hotel room in Padua so quickly. I would definitely travel with HotelTonight in my pocket in the future, as this was an app that would change my whole approach to adventures.
