Last few days in Italy

Last few days in Italy 06/13/2010

After three days of exploring Venice and Burano, we decided to stay 'home' and relax for a while. We spent the day swimming and pottering around, sorting papers, clothes, etc. Vivienne had been wishing to see the historical anatomical theatre at the Univerity of Padua, so it was to this city we next visited. Padua is only 30 minutes from Venice by car, but finding the centre was not very easy, despite all the signs indicating "centro"! However, we found our way to the central station (rail) and parked nearby. The city had buses and trams leading from the rail station to the centre, but we decided to walk.

We located the Palazzo del Bo, but discovered that access to the "Bo" was not available until 3:15pm on this particular day. It was only late morning, so we walked around the area and discovered a large fruit, vegetable, cheese, meat and fish market. It was one of the best markets we have seen during our trip. The range of products was amazing! We then realized we were hungry, so found a local restaurant nearby the duomo (cathedral) to enjoy a leisurely lunch under the sun umbrellas in the square. People watching was definitely on the cards, and we were most amused with the antics of 6-8 local school boys (aged 12-14?) as they ordered their coca colas, ice creams, and chatted a mile a minute between themselves and on their cell phones!

Finally it was opening time for the Bo, and we were fortunate enough to obtain tickets without difficulty. One can only access this particular part of the Bo (University of Padua) as part of a guided tour (maximum of 35 people), and one cannot reserve in advance. We were also fortunate that the multilingual guide chose to speak in English during the tour! This tour included the hall where Galileo spoke, as well as other important rooms associated with the history of medicine, anatomy and the first "legal" human dissections. We were not permitted to view the anatomical theatre (shaped like an inverted cone) from the top down, but stood ( a few people at a time) in the space in which the dissecting table was placed, and looked upwards to the surrounding wooden galleries! The guide was very informative about the history of this beautiful building, and the trip was well worthwhile.

Our remaining time in Italy was spent relaxing and seeing the area immediate to the agriturismo. Then, we were off to Austria, via the Dolomites.....

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