Piazza del Santo

Piazza del Santo, real heart of the so-called Anthonine City, shows as follows: 

- Donatello's Gattamelata (1453), on its high pedestal in front of the Basilica of St Antonio. This Donatello sculpture is a magnificent equestrian statue of the mercenary (Erasmo da Narni) who led Venetian forces to defeat Milan. Gattamelata's figure is posed astride his great bronze horse wearing classical-inspired armour with a baton raised in his right hand, reminiscent of the Roman Emperor Marcus Aurelius Equestrian Statue in the piazza of St Peter in Rome.

- The Oratory of St George with its outstanding frescoes by Altichiero. In the early years of the XIX century the Oratory was turned into a prison by Napoleon Bonaparte. The frescoes were restored in 1995, in the occasion of the eight births centenary of the St Anthony. Since taking the pictures inside the Oratory is not allowed, you can take some from outside :-).

- Scuola del Santo, where Titian painted three large frescoes showing scenes from the life of St Anthony. The young painter had sought guidance for these paintings from the Paduan frescoes by Giotto, two hundred years old, in which he discovered a pictorial language that combined precision with monumentality.

- Basilica of St Antonio of Padua, traditionally called "Il Santo". Imposing and significant monument erected between XIII and XIV century, with Romanesque, Gothic and Eastern elements. The rich artistic equipment includes oeuvres like the frescoes made by Altichiero (1374-78), into the Gothic chapel of St Felice and Donatello's bronzes (1443-50). The sixteenth-century chapel Arca del Santo, admire splendid relieves by Jacopo Sansovino, Tullio and Antonio Lombardo.

Basilica timetable:

• Without daylight saving: 6.20 am – 7.00 pm
• With daylight saving: 6.20 am – 7.45 pm
• Saturday and Sunday closing hours always at 7.45 pm after last Mass.