Padua

Padova (the Italian name) or Padua (the English) is another one of Italy’s best kept secrets. Just 25 miles from Venice and easy to reach from Marco Polo airport, it is a charming Italian city steeped in history and culture. At the same time, it is vibrant and youthful as it is home to the University of Padova. The Padovese are smart and sophisticated. They are also obsessed with Aperol spritzers, food and fashion. Located in the Veneto region, the nearby Po valley is lined with Palladian-style villas, while the lush, green hills of the Colli Euganei offer a perfect place for a bike ride or picnic. Venice, of course, is an easy day trip. Easily walkable and perfect for getting around by bike, Padua is one of my favorite Northern Italian towns.

Native New Yorker living in New Orleans. Ran a tour company that offered vacations in Italy, France and Spain. Insatiable wanderlust and bag packed ready to go.