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Funchal is the main town of Madeira Island, Portugal. Surrounded by the Atlantic, with hotels, port and an international airport, known for its appealing temperatures, decorative paved streets, wine and crafts, Funchal is major tourist destination. The blue ocean’s waves visible almost from anywhere on the island. Visitors to the island are usually impressed by the amazing beauty of the lush vegetation around its coastline.

 

Don’t miss the top spot to visit - Funchal Botanical Garden. With an area of 80,000 sq. m. it is the most famous tourist attraction on the island. There is a collection of more than 2500 plant species. Its location in the amphitheatre will enchant you. The Botanical Gardens provides its visitors with spectacular panoramic views over the mountainous backdrop, the city below and its bay with the deep blue waters of the Atlantic.

Padua is a walled city situated along the Bachiglione River, between Verona and Venice. This city is one of the cultural and economic centers in the Northeast of Italy. Padua is a pilgrimage city, millions of pilgrims come here every year to visit the “Basilica di Sant’Antonio”, where the grave of “Sant’Antonio” is preserved. The other reason to visit this city is Giotto. In Padua you will find the most complete collection of works by Giotto. Set amongst the historic Euganaean Hills, Padua boasts a picturesque network of arcaded streets, numerous bridges, and large communal plazas. The historical center has maintained its medieval system with the characteristic interlaces of decorticate alleys that open themselves in wide public squares. In the public squares is concentrated the life of the city: Palazzo della Ragione, Palazzo Moroni, center of the Town Hall, Caffè Pedrocchi, historical coffee bar between the most famous of Italy, the ancient Università del Bo, they are in the vicinities of the three more famous public squares of the city: Piazza delle Erbe, Piazza della Frutta and Piazza dei Signori. Not to leave for the art lovers, the cycle of frescoes, work of Giusto de Menabuoi inside the Battistero del Duomo.Scrovegni Chapel holds the most complete cycle of entirely preserved frescoes produced by Giotto(1302-1305). They have maintained all their marvellous beauty! Palazzo della Ragione was built in 1218 by the Commune of Padua as the seat of the Podestà and the Law Courts. The upper floor is occupied by a single hall of exceptional dimensions entirely frescoed with astrological and religious subjects. Basilica of S. Anthony called by the Paduans simply “Santo” is an imposing construction built in the 13th century in Romanesque-Gothic style, with eight domes and belfries of eastern inspiration. It contains the body of St. Anthony. There are works by famous artists from the 13th to the 20th century, including those of Altichiero, Giusto de’ Menabuoi and Donatello. Galileo taught in Padua from 1592 to 1610. His chair can be seen in the “Room of the Forty”. The famous Anatomy Theatre, where Vesalius taught, is the oldest in the world (1594).

The world’s first botanical garden was created in Padua. The botanical garden, Orto Botanico di Padova, was founded in 1545. “The Botanical Garden of Padua is the original of all botanical gardens throughout the world, and represents the birth of science, of scientific exchanges, and understanding of the relationship between nature and culture.” — inscription on UNESCO World Heritage List.

Frescoes by Titian can be seen at the Scuola di S. Antonio the Prato della Valle, a 90,000 m² elliptical square has a wide garden surrounded by a trench which is lined by 78 statues portraying famous citizens. Santa Sofia is probably Padova’s most ancient church, the crypt being initiated in the late 10th century by Venetian craftsmen.