Day 4: Venetian Architecture lecture, Oratorio s. Giorgio, Basilica s. Antonio, Botanical Garden

This morning we had a lecture on the development of Venetian architecture by Penelope Brownell. She followed that with a lecture on Venetian painting. Both were excellent. In the afternoon Donatella took us to the Oratorio di san Giorgio, adjoining the Bascilica del Santo. The Scoletta, adjoining the Oratorio, was closed while we were in Padua.

Oratorio di s. Giorgio

Altichiero Frescoes

Execution of St. George

Death of St. Lucy

Crucifixion

Scoletta (closed)

Next we visited to the Basilica itself. It's impossible to describe the experience. The flowers throughout were themselves overwhelming. Where other churches have side altars, this has side chapels, each an amazing assembly of marble, statuary, paintings. The Saint's tomb/altar has stairs around to the back. The pious touch the black marble sarcophagus, often hoping for miraculous cures. There is an enormous chapel of gold reliqueries (housing il Santo's jaw, tongue and larynx). The cross over the main altar is by Donatello.

Webcam

Ground Plan of the Basilica del Sant'Antonio

Main Altar

Tomb/Altar of St. Anthony

Behind St. Anthony's altar

Ceiling above tomb of St. Anthony

Relic of St. Anthony

Chiostro del noviziato

Chiostro della Magnolia

Chiostro del beato Luca Belludi

Chiostro del Generale

Donatello's Gattamelata

Next Donatella took us through the Botanical Garden (Orto Botanico). It was the first botanical garden established in Europe (1545), for the benefit of the medical school. Venetian merchant ships, which traveled the entire world, were instructed to bring back living examples of all plants with a reputation for medical use.

Orto Botanico

Piazza del Santo

In the evening we had an orientation session for tomorrow's excursion, then dinner, then an evening classroom session of "survival Italian" with Annie Ortengren. After that we walked down to, and across, the Piazza del Santo, to a caffè-bar called "Primo Piano" ("First Floor") where we enjoyed a glass of wine at an outdoor table. It's located under the awning in the white building at the center of this photo. Across the small side street, via Capelli, is the pink house with iron balconies in which Donatello lived. We finished around ten, just as they were closing, and headed back to our hotel.

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