Padua, Cathedral

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The six-domed Basilica of St. Anthony, the Saint’s Basilica (Basilica del Santo) is the most famous and artistically important architectural building in Padova (Padua). Started immediately after the death of Saint Anthony on June 13, 1231, its different styles (Romanesque, Gothic, Venetian and Byzantine) blend to create an unusual, but remarkable place of worship. In the centuries since it was built, artistic masterpieces by a dozen artists have been added. Some of the most beautiful are the frescoes by Pietro Annigoni, created in the 1980s.

The Cappella degli Scrovegni (The Scrovegni Chapel) is a masterpiece of Italian painting. Thirty-six scenes arranged in three tiers depict the lives of Mary and Jesus. The theme of the Redemption is concluded by the painting of the Last Judgment on the entrance wall.
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About the most memorable feature in the Duomo (cathedral, begun in 1135) a few blocks from St. Anthony’s, is the floor, laid with black and white tile, in an optical illusion pattern. We have seen this design several times elsewhere, but this one was so real, we felt we had to be careful where we placed our feet.