basilica di santa giustina

Another huge church with an amazing side chapel that is well worth a visit. The information about it's restoration and history is worth the money and I would strongly advise you listen to it before you go in. There is a very primitive cage like structure which will set you thinking and a very pleasingly proportioned chapel awaiting you.

The church is very simple in its romanic style, but it's very closed to the magnificent square Prato della Valle and it's just a 1 minute walk from it. Once you enter the Basilica, go to the right side down to an "L" shaped corridor and you'll see a very ancient chapel (looking like a mini synagogue), but the major suprise you can have is to discover that this church hosts the bones of St. Luca the Evangelist (for the non Christians , it's one of the 4 official Evangelist of the Catholic and Ortodox confessions) and his bones are officially and scientifically proved to be his ones for real (the St. Marco's one in Venice are not confirmed instead..). If you like history and religion, it's something you can't miss to visit in your trip!

Like another reviewer we were looking for St Anthony's (Il Santo) and thought this was it. We couldn't understand why we were unable to find any of the artworks described in the guidebook until the penny dropped!It probably has a completely different atmosphere when full of pilgrims but seemed rather cold and empty because of its enormous size and the handful of visitors when we were there.

Like the Duomo, when you step in lt looks vast and empty but actually it has a number of artistic treasures, moments of colourful surprise and the tombs of Saints Luke and Matthew.

This is a surprisingly large church where St Luke is supposed to be. It is rather cold in feeling despite the crowds of pilgrims, so perhaps more for believers than the casual tourist.

I was looking for St. Anthony's (I know, I know, how could I mistake the two), and I happened upon Saint Guistina's. The exterior of the church, to put it rather plainly, is rather plain. If I was feeling a bit irreverential, I might even call it ugly.Anyway, upon passing through its doors, you enter a rather cavernous church; it's a building with no shortage of unused space, though I'm positive this is a design element of the structure, it makes it hard to compete with the more visually compelling St. Anthony's. Anyway, the open space does at the very least make you feel rather small, which isn't such a surprise I suppose when we're talking about the house of the Big Guy upstairs.Additionally, I was surprised to find the tomb purported to be that of St. Luke the Evangelist (the gospel writer) inside. How it ended up in Padua, is a story for another day (look it up, it is very interesting). I'd argue that this alone makes the Church just as important a visit as the pilgrimage to the more famous basilica down the street, and I can guarantee there will be less people inside!

Despite previous damage to the Basilica during the earthquake of 2012, the basilica is an enormous space and a spectacular feat of engineering given its age and size.

Really large cathedral, but rather boring inside- no really significant works of art. Would skip this site- at least the inside- if time is an issue.

Visited this church whilst visiting the Prato della Valle Square and it is a very beautiful building with dome shaped roofs etc. There are beautiful frescos on the ceiling inside and amazing stained glass with pictures depicting the life of Jesus and Mary. At one side of the church inside, on the wall are two angels carrying the bible and various statutes in nooks and corners of the church. The main door has some sculptures as well. Not to be missed.

Very old and great huge basilica, very interesting comparision to younger basilica S.Antonio, very impressive, definitly a must see in Padua.

We took a day trip by train to Padua from Venice and had only a limited number of hours to spare. With a little time before going back to the train station, we stopped in the Basilica of Santa Giustina, and a kindly priest took us around the entire basilica and explained things to us as best as he could (we understood only a few words in Italian). We were the only visitors at the time. The basilica is cavernous, huge Baroque, memorable for its soft white walls and high ceilings. He showed us an icon of the Virgin Mary that came from Constantinople in the 500s AD, and beneath this icon is a sarcophagus containing the relics of Saint Luke the Evangelist. We also saw remains of the original basilica from the 500s AD. Truly a wonderfully unexpected visit. God bless the kind priest who took the time to show us all around!

It wasn't in our guidebook but we wandered in and it was very pretty and impressive. Well worth walking in while you are in Prato Della Valle.

the most beautiful church in a spectacular setting not commercial a great place to visit. will go back again in the future.wort a visit to sit in solitude and rest

This beautiful basilica is smaller than that of At Anthony but just beautiful. Absolutely gorgeous side chapels and frescos. Don't miss it. When we were there, a wedding was being held. The organ was playing gorgeous romantic songs and the bride looked beatiful. It was a memorable occassion.

this was lovely walk and the place surrounding the abbey is beautiful in the evening