Padua (Padova) is located on the plains of Veneto, approximately to 30 kilometres from the city of Venice. Despite being on the mainland, the city is situated close to the routes of many major rivers flowing down from the nearby hills and mountains to the Adriatic sea, and the thermal resorts of the nearby Colle Euganei hills. Padua has 1,600,000 habitants.

Its agricultural setting is the Pianura Padovana, the "Paduan plain", edged by the Euganaean Hills admired by Lucan and Martial, Petrarch, Ugo Foscolo, and Shelley. The city is picturesque, with a dense network of arcaded streets opening into large communal piazze, and many bridges crossing the various branches of the Bacchiglione, which once surrounded the ancient walls like a moat.

The importance of the village grew during the 13th and 16th centuries Padua was the second biggest university city in Europe (during the 17th century Galileo Galileo researched at the Padova University). Its medical faculty was one of the most formidable of Europe. The heritage of that era can still be found all over the city, with works by masters like Giotto, Mantegna and Donatello (who originally came from Florence) as treasure pieces. In that time the city was a scientific, artistic and cultural center but most of all a religious and pilgrimage center for one of the most important saints, because St. Anthony from Padua was buried here.

The city's life is distinguished for tourism, cultural events, the University and renowned Fiera Campionaria, with its continuous activities throughout the year and its constantly growing pavilions, has become one of the most important economic magnets of Northern Italy.