With this article, we travel through time while remaining in Padua. The Palazzo della Ragione and the Baptistery of Padua are part of the cycle of  Padua Urbs Picta  frescoes, which have recently been added to the list of  Unesco world heritage  assets. The journey takes us back down the ages through “The frescoed cycles of the Fourteenth century.”

Previously, the  Oratory of San Michele, one of the four stages of the cycle, was explored. We now shift our focus to the squares, and enter the  Palazzo della Ragione and the Baptistery.

The Palazzo della Ragione: the richest stop

This is the largest cycle   among those from Padua that are included in the World Heritage List. The walls of the hall on the first floor of the Palazzo were completely frescoed by  Giotto , following the work done by the artist in the  Scrovegni Chapel.  The visitor does not realize the magnificence of the work until they are right inside it.

The fresco includes  343 frames  that constitute what is defined as a real  almanac  of zodiac signs, symbols of professions, and human characters, designed according to the court benches of the time.

The Cathedral Baptistery: one discovery after another

In 1395,  Giusto de ‘Menabuoi  began to create what today has become a World Heritage Site: the  History of Salvation cycle    which narrates the life of Christ and of John the Baptist.

In addition to being important for the study of space in painting, this fresco  has two notable distinguishing features. The first concerns the surface covered by the painting:  every part of the Baptistery is frescoed,  even the soffits of the arches. The second is the person who commissioned the work, in this case, a woman.  The sensitivity of  Fina Buzzacarini, who wanted these frescoes, has repercussions on the feelings rendered by their story.

The chapel of the Carrarese palace and its unique courteous elegance

Today the seat of the Galilean Academy of Sciences, Letters and Arts, the Reggia Carrarese includes the frescoed cycle that tells the  Stories of the Old Testament,painted by  Guariento di Arpo  starting from 1354.

The message is explicit:  the salvation of man  comes from God thanks to the intervention of Christ. An important and complex theme which is vivaciously narrated through the dimension of time is that of the  court, whose story is told in the choice to paint the clothes and architecture of that time.

Having reached the end of the second stop, all that remains is to visit these Italian works of art that are the envy of the whole world. An experience that the guests of the Hotel Tritone can enjoy by travelling a short distance from the city of Abano Terme.

To contemplate the wonder of these frescoes, you can book your next trip to Padua and your stay at Hotel Tritone, by writing here or calling (+39) 049 8668099.