Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
cloisters. The oldest (13th century) is the
Chiostro della Magnolia
, so called because of the
Piazza del Santo; adult/reduced €2.50/1.50; 9am-1pm & 2-6pm Apr-Sep, 9am-1pm Mon-Fri, 9am-1pm & 2-6pm
Sat & Sun Oct-Mar)
holds a kitschy collection of art and religious objects donated by grateful
pilgrims.
Outside, in the
Piazza del Santo
, is Donatello's 1453 equestrian statue of the 15th-century
Venetian mercenary leader known as
Gattamelata
(Honeyed Cat). It's considered the first
great Italian Renaissance bronze.
ORATORIO DI SAN GIORGIO
MAP
ORATORY
GOOGLE MAP
( 049 822 56 52; Piazza del Santo; excl/incl Scoletta del Santo €3/5; 9am-12.30pm & 2.30-7pm Apr-Oct, to
5pm Nov-Mar)
Anywhere else the fresco cycle of the
Oratorio di San Giorgio
and the paintings in
the
Scoletta del Santo
would be considered highlights, but in Padua they must contend with
Giotto's Scrovegni brilliance. This means you'll have Altichiero da Zevio's and Jacopo
Avanzi's jewel-like, 14th-century frescoes of St George, St Lucy and St Catherine all to
yourself, while upstairs in the
scoletta
(confraternity house) Titian paintings are seldom
viewed in such tranquility.
Completed in 1377, the Oratory was the burial chapel of the Marquis Raimondino Lupi
and is similar in structure to the Scrovegni chapel. A single nave with high, smooth walls
is capped by a generous barrel vault sprinkled with golden stars. To the left, scenes from
the life of St George include not only feats of dragon-slaying but miraculous survival stor-
ies and superhero prayer power that lays low a temple of idols. Likewise, to the right, St
Lucy remains steadfast as a team of burly oxen attempt to drag her to a house of ill repute,
and St Catherine frees herself from the torture wheel.
Upstairs, the 1427
scoletta
was built soon after St Anthony's canonisation, although the
cycle of 15 paintings lining its walls was only added in 1510-11. Large uplighters cast
glowing pools of light on paintings by Titian and his brother Francesco Vecellio. Most en-
gaging are Titian's
Miracle of a Jealous Husband
and his portrait of St Anthony calmly
reattaching his own foot as an onlooker gasps. There is also a riveting parable by his
brother, in which a doctor discovers a miser's heart is missing, just as a neighbour pulls
the bloody organ from a treasure chest.
ORTO BOTANICO
MAP
GARDEN
GOOGLE MAP
