Vicenza is only 20 minutes from Padua by rail, but another world. While Vicenza is quiet and very polished, Padua is far more big city, busier and noisier. We spent a big part of the afternoon in the cathedral Baptistry, painted by Giusto de Menabuoi in the early 14th century at the same time Giotto was painting the Scrovegni Chapel nearby. The Baptistry offers a vision of heaven filled with angels and saints in the dome, and along the walls highlights of the Book of Genesis, lives of John the Baptist, Mary and Jesus. Particularly interesting is a cycle of frescoes depicting scenes from the Apocalypse, especially the seven headed beast with bishops’ miters on some of its heads. Certainly the greatest surprise on the street was a jogging brass band. People moved out of their way! Nearby the hotel is the basilica of Saint Antony of Padua — more tomorrow on the basilica. Padua is by far the warmest temperatures of the trip.
