Wednesday, June 15, 2011

Bridge Wednesday - Padua

Prato della Valle, Padua, Italy  © Doug Hickok


The picturesque city of Padua is the oldest city of northern Italy. Tradition says it was founded by the Trojan prince Antenor in the year 1183 BC.

Pictured above is the canal of the Prato della Valle (Il Prato), the elliptical public square built over the remains of an ancient Roman theater. This canal is lined with statues of town luminaries and surrounded by beautiful palazzi dating from the 14th century.


Padua's famous university (1222 AD) had among its professors Copernicus and Galileo. The school also boasts the world's oldest botanical garden (1545 AD). Artists such as Giotto, Donatello, Mantegna and Canova have contributed to the city's cultural legacy. The great architect Palladio was born here... and so on and so forth.

The neighborhood I live in (a suburb of Charleston) was developed only about 40 years ago (circa 1970 AD). Before that it was primarily woodlands and wetlands. The only known luminary was the Swamp Thing (see this post for details).
Hmm, no wonder America is called the New World.

27 comments:

  1. I LOVE this Old World image, Doug, and how you have compared it to our New World in America. You are so right. That's why I am in awe of Europe every day that I'm here!

    ReplyDelete
  2. A perfect photo, I would say! There are so many ancient, beautiful places in Europe! And yes, America is the New World compared with them but it's new only for the white race.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Italy has so many beautiful old buildings.
    Your photo is very nice, the pastel colors are charming. Did you make any filter processing on it?

    ReplyDelete
  4. This feels like going back in time..
    Love it!

    ReplyDelete
  5. Even if the U.S. continues for another millennium, it will never look like this.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Mon Dieu!it's BEAUTIFUL!
    You have visited so wonderful places in this world, I'm envious here! And happy because you are sharing your pictures, so we can also dream about there!
    I love that sculpture and the reflections are magnificent!
    Léia

    ReplyDelete
  7. It took forever to load that picture, but once loaded... very beautiful ! thanks !

    ReplyDelete
  8. Nice shot and very interesting history. PADUA a place that have to be visited.
    Thank you for everiting, I,m glad to find your blog

    ReplyDelete
  9. First, great shot with amazing light and reflection. Second, you're cracking me up with your narrative here--good stuff. I'm reminded of Harris K. Telemacher's cinematic words to Sara as he gave her a sightseeing tour of LA:

    "Some of these buildings are 20 YEARS OLD!"

    ReplyDelete
  10. Love photos with history behind them like this! Like the yellow hue too. I so wanted to get to Padua, but I have to admit that I was so tired of trains by the time I got to Venice that I planted myself there for my last two days.

    ReplyDelete
  11. This is lovely. Your composition is excellent, and your processing gives this the patina of an old oil painting.

    ReplyDelete
  12. I really like the tea stained look of this photo. Framing of the bridge and reflections was done very well.

    ReplyDelete
  13. You and me show a bridge today. Very amusing ! I like yours and the composition also.

    My excuses if I comment less on your images in the days to come, I have to look after my back which makes me suffer at the moment and spend least possible time in front of my screen.

    ReplyDelete
  14. Nobody does golden hour better than you. :)
    Padua looks like a great place to explore!

    New World has New Hampshire, New York and New Jersey.
    How weird they're all located in New England...
    I wonder why. :^)

    ReplyDelete
  15. Some interesting facts about the Italian antiquities - and they look so right in the antique light.

    ReplyDelete
  16. Its like looking in a mirror, very lovely tones, they suit the atmosphere of the image :-)

    ReplyDelete
  17. beautiful image. lovely color and reflections.

    ReplyDelete
  18. Wonderful bridge and reflections.
    I love your landscape picture of june 6th.

    ReplyDelete
  19. that sure is a picturesque scene.. nice capture!

    ReplyDelete
  20. First and most important is the grandeur that you have added to this ancient city with your lens and your treatment Doug....WOW!!!:).
    Then i read the history.....in 1222 AD the University year book would have been carved on stone tablets....that is even older than dirt:).... i see what you meant about the New World:D....well done Sir....peter:)

    ReplyDelete
  21. Very nice picture Doug,
    i like this italian city.

    Greetings, Joop

    thanks for your comment.

    ReplyDelete
  22. I have been in Padua only a long time ago, and I regret this...

    ReplyDelete
  23. fantastic mood and reflection

    ReplyDelete
  24. Perfect shot! I love this terrific reflections!
    And of course this colourful processing.

    ReplyDelete
  25. I love the "old world" light that you've created in this shot. A great look and a terrific image!

    ReplyDelete
  26. wow this one is simply wonderful, perfect point of view

    ReplyDelete

Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...