Pretty Italian city just 30 minutes from Venice but without crowds of tourists

Venice, the Italian lagoon, attracts millions of visitors every year.

In fact, its huge international popularity is putting a strain on residents as well as the city’s infrastructure, and has seen the local government enforcing a series of measures in recent months aiming to curb the impact of overtourism.

The temporary entry fee imposed on daily trippers this summer or restrictions on group tours don’t seem to have deterred tourists from heading to Venice.

Yet, those who want to avoid the crowds are spoilt for choice if they are looking for alternative destinations in the area.

Padua, or Padova as known by Italians, is a historic city lying just 25 miles west of Venice. 

Located in the same region as the lagoon, Veneto, Padua is home to two UNESCO World Heritage List entries.

One, the botanical garden – Orto Botanico di Padova – is the world’s oldest still in its original location, dating back to 1545.

Encompassing around 240,000 square feet, the Orto Botanico is famous for its collections, including one of insectivorous plants and another of medicinal and poisonous species.

The second, incredible site listed by UNESCO in Padua is the Scrovegni Chapel, a breathtaking church painted by Italian artist Giotto at the beginning of 1300.  

Padua is also home to one of the world’s oldest universities, where history-defining personalities including Galileo Galilei and Nicolaus Copernicus either studied or taught. 

Padua is also a perfect destination for those loving to take a stroll in city centres, with one of its main squares, Piazza delle Erbe, being the heart of locals’ activities since the Middle Ages.

And, much like Venice, it even has its own canals, including a small one that passes through the stunning Prato della Valle square.

Padua can also be a perfect base from which to visit the wider area.

Linked to Venice by train with tickets coming for as little as £4,21, Padua allows tourists to see the lagoon, just half an hour away, while saving on accommodation.

Similarly, tourists in the area can visit Verona, which was given international fame by Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet. The journey takes between 45 to 90 minutes, depending on the type of train chosen.