padua: musical itinerary

DURATION

2 days/1 night – Available all year round

CATEGORY

Art and Culture, UNESCO

SERVICE

Half board

A tour designed to discover the places linked to both music and two important characters: Bartolomeo Cristofori, Paduan who invented the piano, and Giuseppe Tartini, great musician from Pirano, a town now part of Slovenia, who tied his business to the city of Padua for fifty years, as the head of the orchestra for the Basilica of Saint Anthony.

ItinerarY

First day: Padua

Arrival in Padua and meeting with the guide. The places frequented by musician Giuseppe Tartini is where our tour starts. We are going to begin with a stroll through Prato della Valle (one of Europe’s biggest squares), where you can admire the musician’s statue. We will move on with the visit inside the Basilica of Saint Anthony (UNESCO World Heritage Site). We will carry on visiting the Chiesa dei Servi di Maria, where a wooden crucifix of Donatello is kept and where a funeral oration in praise of Tartini was recited. Lastly, we are going to visit the Chiesa di Santa Caterina, where Tartini was buried. We then go to the squares where some time is allotted for lunch. Early in the afternoon, we are going to visit an ancient craftsman shop belonging to a professional lute maker. Available upon reservation and subject to availability: visit to Palazzo Papafava and the Oratorio dei Colombini, private palace owned by the Papafava family, tied to Bartolomeo Cristofori. During our tour, we are going to take a coffee break at the Pedrocchi Café (Caffè Pedrocchi in Italian), a café founded in the 18th century and one of the city’s landmarks. We are going to relocate and check-in in a 3 or 4-star hotel either located in Padua or in the immediate vicinity. Dinner at the restaurant. Return to the hotel and overnight stay.

Second day: Padua

After breakfast, we are going to visit Bo Palace, which has been the seat of the ancient and prestigious University of Padua since the late 1400’s. We are going to admire the oldest part of the Palace where the Aula Magna (assembly hall) is located. It features a beautiful fresco on the ceiling by Giulio Carlini and it is known as “La sapienza e le discipline” (wisdom and the disciplines). The Palace also features the Sala dei Quaranta (the hall of forty), with paintings depicting 40 of the most famous foreign students, and the Teatro Anatomico (the Anatomical Theatre). Exiting the Palace, we can continue along via San Francesco, until we reach a very interesting location: the Loggia and the Odeo Cornaro, respectively theatre scene and popular venue for music in Padua in the 16th century. At the end of the visit, some time will be allotted for lunch and end of our services. Possible additions or integrations may be added to the main program based on the client’s preferences.

ADDITIONAL TOURS

Museo dei Pianoforti Antichi – Arquà Petrarca

The Museo dei Pianoforti Antichi in Arquà Petrarca is located inside Villa Centanin, in a charming village called Colli Euganei. Inside a collection of 18th and 19th century pianos, manufactured by famous German, English, French and Italian piano makers, is on display.

DETAILS

It is possible to join this itinerary with another one. Further additional tours could be available based on seasonality.

RECOMMENDED PERIOD: SEPTEMBER

Every year, in the month of September, the Festival Pianistico Internazionale (International Piano Festival) is organized and it is a tribute to Bartolomeo Cristofori’s innovative genius. The city welcomes many young piano players and different musical evenings are organized in the city’s most beautiful concert halls, with both classical music and jazz music concerts.

CONTACT US

INCLUDED

  • 1 overnight stay in a 3 or 4-star hotel with breakfast included;
  • 1 dinner at the restaurant;
  • Guided tours with a specialized guide as scheduled;
  •  Visit to an ancient craftsman shop belonging to a professional lute maker;
  • Admissions as scheduled: Basilica of Saint Anthony, Chiesa dei Servi di Maria, Chiesa di Santa Caterina, Palazzo Papafava (available upon reservation and subject to availability), Bo Palace, Loggia and Odeo Cornaro.

NOT INCLUDED

  • Tourist taxes;
  • Additional admissions;
  • Tips, drinks and everything not included in “included” section.