The Catholic Pilgrim's Guide to Padua, Italy

Home to Saint Anthony's incorrupt tongue and tomb, drawing over six million pilgrims annually to Il Santo—Italy's most visited shrine outside Rome.

On June 13, 1231, the children of Padua ran through the streets crying, "The Saint is dead! Anthony is dead!" — and legend holds that the church bells of the city rang of their own accord. The young Franciscan friar who had arrived from Portugal just a decade earlier, hoping to die a martyr in Morocco, had instead become the most beloved preacher in Italy. Within a year of his death, Pope Gregory IX would proclaim him a saint — one of the fastest canonizations in Church history. Padua (Padova in Italian) rises from the flat, fertile plain of the Veneto, a prosperous university city of some 210,000 souls roughly 40 kilometers west of Venice. The Bacchiglione River winds through its medieval center, past arcaded streets and bustling piazzas where students from one of Europe's oldest universities (founded in 1222) mingle with pilgrims from around the world. The city's skyline is punctuated by the distinctive cluster of Byzantine-style domes that crown the Basilica of Saint Anthony — known simply as "Il Santo" to locals, as if no other saint need be named. Today, more than six million visitors come to Padua each year, making it one of the most visited pilgrimage sites in the Christian world. They come to venerate the relics of Saint Anthony, to touch the worn marble of his tomb, and to pray before his incorrupt tongue — miraculously preserved for nearly eight centuries as a testament to his gift of preaching. Yet Padua offers far more than a single shrine. The city holds the tomb of Saint Luke the Evangelist at the immense Basilica of Santa Giustina, Giotto's revolutionary frescoes in the Scrovegni Chapel — a UNESCO World Heritage Site that stands alongside the Sistine Chapel as one of Western art's supreme achievements — and a remarkable concentration of fourteenth-century painted churches that together form the "Padova Urbs Picta" heritage site. Whether you come as a devout pilgrim seeking the intercession of the wonder-working saint or as a curious visitor drawn by artistic masterpieces, Padua rewards every step with beauty, history, and the living faith of its people.

📜 History & Spiritual Significance

The man the world knows as Saint Anthony of Padua was born Fernando Martins de Bulhões in Lisbon, Portugal, on August 15, 1195, to a wealthy noble family. At fifteen, he entered the Canons Regular of Saint Augustine, later transferring to the monastery of Santa Cruz in Coimbra to pursue his studies in theology and Scripture more deeply. His brilliant mind absorbed the writings of the Church Fathers, especially Saint Augustine, preparing him for a destiny he could not yet imagine. The turning point came in 1220, when the remains of five Franciscan missionaries — martyred in Morocco for preaching Christ to the Muslims — were brought to Coimbra. The young priest Fernando was so moved by their sacrifice that he obtained permission to leave the Augustinians and join the newly founded Franciscan Order. He took the name Anthony, after Anthony the Great of Egypt, and set sail for Morocco, burning with desire for martyrdom. But God had other plans. Severe illness forced Anthony to abandon his African mission. His ship, bound for Portugal, was blown off course and landed in Sicily. Still weak and unknown, he made his way to the great Franciscan gathering at Assisi in 1221 — the famous "Chapter of Mats" where three thousand friars slept on the ground. No one noticed the sickly Portuguese priest. Anthony was assigned to a small hermitage near Forlì, where he served as cook and chapel cleaner. His scholarship remained hidden until, at an ordination ceremony where no prepared preacher was present, the provincial asked him to speak whatever the Holy Spirit inspired. What followed astonished everyone. The words that poured from Anthony's lips revealed a theologian of profound depth and a preacher of extraordinary power. Saint Francis himself, upon hearing reports of this, appointed Anthony the first teacher of theology in the Franciscan Order — with careful instructions not to let study extinguish the spirit of prayer. For the next decade, Anthony crisscrossed northern Italy and southern France, preaching to crowds so vast that churches could not contain them. He spoke in marketplaces and fields, his voice carrying with supernatural clarity. Shops closed when he came to town. Enemies reconciled, debts were forgiven, prisoners released, heretics converted. People called him the "Hammer of Heretics" for his powerful arguments against Cathar and Albigensian teachings, yet it was his gentleness, his care for the poor, and his ability to move hearts that left the deepest mark. By 1229, exhausted but still on fire with zeal, Anthony settled in Padua at a small convent he had helped found near the church of Santa Maria Mater Domini. It was here that he preached his legendary Lenten sermons of 1231 — daily homilies that drew such crowds that the city seemed to empty into the piazzas. He spent hours in the confessional, reconciling sinners to God. He advocated for debtors, convincing Padua's city council to pass laws protecting the poor from harsh imprisonment. That spring, worn out by years of fasting, preaching, and ceaseless labor, Anthony retreated to the woodland hermitage of Camposampiero, where a cell was built for him in the branches of a walnut tree. On June 13, sensing his death was near, he asked to be taken back to Padua. He died at the Poor Clare monastery at Arcella, just outside the city walls, whispering, "I see my Lord!" He was thirty-six years old. The outpouring of devotion was immediate and overwhelming. On May 30, 1232 — less than a year after his death — Pope Gregory IX canonized him at Spoleto. Work began almost immediately on a great basilica to house his remains. When his body was exhumed in 1263 for transfer to the new church, Saint Bonaventure, then Minister General of the Franciscans, made an astounding discovery: though Anthony's body had returned to dust, his tongue remained perfectly preserved — soft, moist, and intact. Bonaventure lifted it reverently, exclaiming, "O blessed tongue, which always praised God and caused others to praise Him! Now it is clear how meritorious you were before God!" The incorrupt tongue has been venerated in Padua ever since, drawing millions who come to honor the saint whose words brought so many to God. In 1946, Pope Pius XII declared Anthony a Doctor of the Church — the "Evangelical Doctor" — recognizing his enduring contribution to Catholic teaching. Today, his basilica stands not merely as a monument to the past but as a living center of prayer, where Franciscan friars continue the ministry Anthony began, and where pilgrims from every nation find healing, hope, and the intercession of one of heaven's most beloved saints.

☩ Pilgrimage Sites in Padua

Padua's sacred treasures are concentrated within walking distance of each other, allowing pilgrims to experience an extraordinary spiritual journey in a single day — though a longer stay reveals deeper riches. The historic center unfolds south from the train station, with the Scrovegni Chapel near the northern edge, the Cathedral and Baptistery in the heart of the old city, and the great pilgrimage basilicas — Sant'Antonio and Santa Giustina — anchoring the southern end around the vast oval of Prato della Valle, one of Europe's largest squares. Most churches observe afternoon closures (typically 12:30-2:30 PM); modest dress is required everywhere.

Basilica of Saint Anthony of Padua (Il Santo)

Italian Name: Basilica di Sant'Antonio di Padova Address: Piazza del Santo, 11, 35123 Padova PD, Italy GPS Coordinates: 45.4013, 11.8808 Google Maps: View on Google Maps Website: santantonio.org Dedication: Saint Anthony of Padua Historical Note: Construction began in 1232, immediately after Anthony's canonization, and continued for nearly eighty years. The resulting church is a remarkable fusion of Romanesque, Gothic, and Byzantine elements — eight domes crown the roofline, evoking the great churches of Constantinople, while the red brick façade and pointed arches speak of Italian Gothic. The small church of Santa Maria Mater Domini, where Anthony was originally buried, was incorporated into the new structure as the Chapel of the Dark Madonna (Cappella della Madonna Mora). Spiritual Importance: The heart of any pilgrimage to Padua is the Chapel of the Saint's Tomb (Cappella dell'Arca), where Anthony's remains rest in a sixteenth-century marble monument adorned with reliefs depicting his miracles. Pilgrims queue patiently to touch the worn green marble of his sarcophagus — so many hands over so many centuries have smoothed its surface. Behind the high altar, the Treasury Chapel (Cappella delle Reliquie) holds the saint's most precious relics: his incorrupt tongue in a golden reliquary crafted by Giuliano da Firenze in 1436; his jawbone; and the vocal apparatus recovered during the 1981 scientific examination. The chapel also preserves a fragment of the True Cross and a relic of Saint Pope John Paul II. The basilica's artistic treasures rival any museum. Donatello's magnificent bronze sculptures on the high altar (1444-1449) rank among the supreme achievements of Renaissance art. Frescoes by Giotto survive in the Benediction Chapel — damaged but still visible traces of his hand — while the Chapel of Saint James contains Altichiero da Zevio's stunning Crucifixion, a masterpiece of fourteenth-century painting. Do not miss the peaceful cloisters, where Anthony once walked, or the Museo Antoniano for deeper insight into the saint's life and cult.

Basilica of Santa Giustina

Italian Name: Basilica di Santa Giustina Address: Via Giuseppe Ferrari, 2/A, 35123 Padova PD, Italy GPS Coordinates: 45.3974, 11.8821 Google Maps: View on Google Maps Dedication: Saint Justina of Padua Historical Note: This colossal church — 122 meters long and the seventh-largest in Italy — rises on the south side of Prato della Valle, its eight domes echoing the skyline of Sant'Antonio across the square. A church has stood here since the fourth century, built over the tomb of Saint Justina, a young noblewoman martyred during the Diocletian persecution in 304 AD. The present Renaissance structure dates from the sixteenth century, though its unfinished brick façade gives little hint of the grandeur within. Spiritual Importance: Santa Giustina is a treasury of sacred relics of the highest order. The left transept holds the tomb of Saint Luke the Evangelist — author of the third Gospel and the Acts of the Apostles — whose remains were brought to Padua from Constantinople in 1177. The monument, crafted of serpentine and Verona marble in 1313, is surmounted by a Byzantine icon of the Madonna traditionally believed to have been painted by Luke himself. In the right transept rests the sarcophagus of Saint Matthias the Apostle, who replaced Judas among the Twelve. The atmospheric Corridor of the Martyrs (Corridoio dei Martiri) leads past the Well of the Martyrs — containing bones of early Christian saints discovered in 1269 — to the ancient Sanctuary of Saint Prosdocimus, the first bishop of Padua. This sixth-century chapel, with its original marble iconostasis, is the oldest surviving church structure in the city. Paolo Veronese's luminous altarpiece depicting the Martyrdom of Saint Justina (1575) presides over the high altar.

Scrovegni Chapel (Cappella degli Scrovegni)

Italian Name: Cappella degli Scrovegni / Cappella dell'Arena Address: Piazza Eremitani, 8, 35121 Padova PD, Italy GPS Coordinates: 45.4115, 11.8795 Google Maps: View on Google Maps Website: cappelladegliscrovegni.it Dedication: Santa Maria della Carità (Our Lady of Charity) Historical Note: In 1300, wealthy banker Enrico Scrovegni purchased land that included the ruins of Padua's Roman arena and began constructing a private chapel — in part to expiate the sins of his father, Reginaldo, a notorious usurer whom Dante placed in Hell. Scrovegni hired Giotto di Bondone, already famous for his work at Assisi, to decorate the interior. Between 1303 and 1305, Giotto and his workshop covered every surface with frescoes that would revolutionize Western art. Spiritual Importance: The chapel is a complete pictorial catechesis, telling the story of salvation from the expulsion of Joachim from the Temple through the life of the Virgin Mary, the Incarnation, the ministry and Passion of Christ, and finally the Last Judgment that covers the entire entrance wall. Giotto's figures possess a humanity and emotional depth that broke decisively from medieval conventions — the tender kiss of Joachim and Anna at the Golden Gate, the devastating grief of the mourners at Christ's Lamentation, the intense confrontation between Christ and Judas. The ultramarine ceiling, studded with golden stars, creates the impression of standing beneath the vault of heaven itself. In 2021, UNESCO inscribed the chapel, along with seven other fourteenth-century fresco cycles in Padua, as a World Heritage Site. Advance booking is essential; visits are limited to 25 people for 15 minutes after a climate-controlled decompression chamber.

Cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta (Duomo) and Baptistery

Italian Name: Duomo di Padova / Battistero del Duomo Address: Piazza Duomo, 35139 Padova PD, Italy GPS Coordinates: 45.4068, 11.8736 Google Maps: View on Google Maps Website: diocesipadova.it Dedication: Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary Historical Note: Padua's cathedral has occupied this site since the fourth century, though earthquakes and rebuilding have transformed it repeatedly. The current structure, begun in the sixteenth century with input from Michelangelo on the design of the new presbytery, was not completed until 1754. The unfinished façade gives the exterior a severe appearance, but the bright, airy interior with its modern liturgical furnishings (by Giuliano Vangi) offers a contemplative space. Spiritual Importance: The treasure here is the adjacent Baptistery, a twelfth-century Romanesque structure commissioned as a family mausoleum by Fina Buzzaccarini, wife of the Lord of Padua. Between 1375 and 1378, Giusto de' Menabuoi covered every surface with frescoes that stand second only to the Scrovegni Chapel in Padua's artistic heritage. The dome's Paradise — Christ Pantocrator surrounded by concentric rings of angels and saints — is hypnotic in its goldsmith-like precision. Scenes from the Old and New Testaments unfold on the walls, including rare depictions of the Apocalypse in the apse. The Baptistery is part of the UNESCO "Padova Urbs Picta" site.

Sanctuary of Arcella

Italian Name: Santuario di Santa Maria del Carmine (dell'Arcella) Address: Via Tiziano Aspetti, 101, 35132 Padova PD, Italy GPS Coordinates: 45.4223, 11.8947 Google Maps: View on Google Maps Dedication: Saint Anthony of Padua Historical Note: This sanctuary marks the exact spot where Saint Anthony died on June 13, 1231. The original Poor Clare monastery where he breathed his last has been replaced by a church that preserves the "Cell of the Transit" — a small room that tradition identifies as the place of his death. Spiritual Importance: Though less visited than the great basilica, the Sanctuary of Arcella offers pilgrims a more intimate encounter with the end of Anthony's earthly journey. The cell contains a seventeenth-century representation of the dying saint and is a place of quiet prayer. On June 13, the anniversary of his death, special observances draw devoted pilgrims.

🕯️ Annual Feast Days & Celebrations

June 13 – Feast of Saint Anthony of Padua Basilica di Sant'Antonio. The largest celebration in Padua draws hundreds of thousands of pilgrims for the "Tredicina" — thirteen days of preparation culminating in solemn Masses, processions through the historic center, and all-night veneration at the saint's tomb. The evening procession on June 13, with the saint's relics carried through candlelit streets, is one of Italy's most moving religious spectacles. February (Third Sunday after Candlemas) – Feast of the Translation of the Relics ("Feast of the Tongue") Basilica di Sant'Antonio. This feast commemorates the 1263 discovery of Anthony's incorrupt tongue when his body was transferred to the new basilica. Solemn Masses and a procession of the relics inside the basilica mark the occasion.

🛏️ Where to Stay

Hotel Casa del Pellegrino ⭐⭐⭐ 📍 Address: Via Melchiorre Cesarotti, 21, 35123 Padova PD, Italy 🌐 Website: casadelpellegrino.com 🔗 Booking: Book on Booking.com The traditional choice for pilgrims, this 147-room hotel occupies a baroque building directly across from the Basilica of Saint Anthony. Run by the Franciscans, it offers simple but comfortable rooms, many with views of the basilica's domes. Two on-site restaurants serve Italian cuisine, and the location cannot be bettered. Belludi 37 ⭐⭐⭐⭐ 📍 Address: Via Luca Belludi, 37, 35123 Padova PD, Italy 🌐 Website: belludi37.it 🔗 Booking: Book on Booking.com A stylish boutique hotel in a renovated palazzo, steps from Prato della Valle and the basilicas. Contemporary design meets Venetian elegance; the breakfast courtyard is delightful. Methis Hotel & SPA ⭐⭐⭐⭐ 📍 Address: Riviera Paleocapa, 70, 35141 Padova PD, Italy 🌐 Website: methishotel.com A design-forward hotel along the canal, a short walk from the historic center. Spa facilities and a rooftop terrace offer relaxation after a day of pilgrimage. Hotel Al Fagiano ⭐⭐⭐ 📍 Address: Via Locatelli, 45, 35133 Padova PD, Italy 🌐 Website: alfagiano.com A family-run hotel near the basilica with clean, simple rooms and a warm welcome. Good value for budget-conscious pilgrims.

🚗 Getting There

By Air: Venice Marco Polo Airport (VCE) is approximately 45 kilometers from Padua. Direct buses operated by BusItalia connect the airport to Padua's bus station (approximately 75 minutes, €10). Treviso Airport (TSF) also has bus connections. Verona Airport (VRN) is about 90 kilometers west. By Train: Padua lies on the main Milan–Venice railway line and is exceptionally well served. High-speed Frecciarossa and Frecciargento trains connect Padua to Venice (25 minutes), Bologna (1 hour), Florence (2 hours), Rome (3 hours), and Milan (2 hours). The train station (Stazione di Padova) is about 2 kilometers north of the Basilica of Saint Anthony. By Car: From the A4 motorway (Milan–Venice), take the Padova Est exit and follow signs for Centro Città and Ospedale. From the A13 (Bologna–Padua), use the Padova Sud exit. The historic center has limited traffic zones (ZTL); parking is available at garages including Prato della Valle and the hospital area near the basilicas. Local Transport: Trams run from the train station through the city center, with the "Santo" stop directly serving the Basilica of Saint Anthony. Buses 3, 12, and 18 also connect the station to the pilgrimage sites. The historic center is compact and easily walkable.

📚 Further Reading

Books:

  • Vergilio Gamboso, OFM Conv., Life of St. Anthony: Assidua (Messenger Press) — The earliest biography of the saint, written within two years of his death.
  • Sophronius Clasen, OFM, St. Anthony: Doctor of the Church (Franciscan Herald Press) — A scholarly study of Anthony's theology and preaching.
  • Jack Wintz, OFM, Saint Anthony of Padua: His Life, Legends, and Popular Devotions (St. Anthony Messenger Press) — An accessible introduction for modern pilgrims.

Articles & Online Resources:

🎥 Recommended Videos

🔗 Useful Links

✝️ Closing Reflection

"Actions speak louder than words; let your words teach and your actions speak."

— Saint Anthony of Padua, Sermons

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Pilgrims are encouraged to contact the Basilica of Saint Anthony directly for current Mass schedules, confession times, and special pilgrimage arrangements.