Padova. Piazza del Duomo, il centro religioso della Città

Piazza Duomo is the sacred heart of Padua's historic center. It houses the imposing Cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta and the Baptistery, famous for its magnificent 14th-century fresco cycle by Giusto de Menabuoi. The religious complex also includes the Episcopal Chancellery and the Bishop's Palace. Although less crowded than Piazza delle Erbe or Piazza dei Signori, and less well-known than Piazza del Santo, its proximity to the Jewish Ghetto makes it a key stop for the city's art and history. The Baptistery of Padua Cathedral, a place of worship built in the 12th century and remodeled in the 13th, was consecrated in 1281 and dedicated to Saint John the Baptist. In addition to being a monument of great artistic and cultural value for the city, the Baptistery is primarily a vibrant place for the Church of Padua, where the sacraments are still celebrated today: the baptisms of many children, while the baptisms and confirmations of adults are celebrated on Easter night by the Bishop. The Baptistery has a square plan with a high circular tambour and a dome. It features an apse with a small dome also on the east side, and the exterior is decorated with small arches and pilasters. It contains a cycle of frescoes by Giusto de' Menabuoi. The Cathedral Basilica of Santa Maria Assunta, known to the Paduans as the Duomo, is the main Catholic place of worship in Padua and the seat of the bishop of the diocese. Dedicated to the Assumption of Mary, it has the dignity of a minor basilica and is also a parish church. Inside, the bodies of Saint Daniel, Saint Leoninus, and Saint Gregory Barbarigo are venerated. The current building dates back to the 16th century, and Michelangelo Buonarroti was involved in its construction. For more information, I invite you to watch my specific video. The Bishop's Palace in Padua houses the Diocesan Museum. The tour extends over 2,000 square meters and allows visitors to admire sacred works of art from the 9th to the 19th centuries, the Chapel of Santa Maria degli Angeli, and the Salone dei Vescovi, a magnificent 15th-century frescoed hall featuring portraits of the city's first hundred bishops. The Palazzo dei Bonaffari is one of the few remaining houses built by collaborators of the Carraresi family in the 14th century. This building is centrally located directly opposite the Duomo. It is impossible to trace its original architectural appearance, as the current structure is the result of restoration work carried out in the early 1900s. Baldo De’ Bonaffari and his wife Sibilla De’ Cetto were benefactors of the Hospital of Padua and the founders of the Convent of San Francesco, located on the street of the same name. The Palazzo del Monte di Pietà Nuovo is a medieval building located between Piazza Duomo and Via Monte di Pietà. The building has housed the Monte di Pietà since the 16th century. The 14th-century loggia supports an extension by Giovanni Maria Falconetto. It was the second headquarters of the Monte di Pietà (Mount of Piety); the first was located in the Stra' Maggiore district, now Via Dante. The palace, built between the 13th and 14th centuries, was owned by the famous usurer Rinaldo Scrovegni. In the early 14th century, it suffered a fire and fell into abandonment. Under the rule of the Princes of Carrara, the building became part of the Royal Palace of Carrara. Between 1404 and 1405, Padua passed to the Serenissima, and the palace became the property of the Venetian government. In the first half of the 16th century, a second fire damaged much of the building. Doge Andrea Gritti sold the ruins for 10,000 ducats to the Monte di Pietà, an institution established in Padua since 1491. The renovation of the façade was entrusted to the Veronese architect Falconetto, who redesigned the building based on the six-arched portico and the perimeter walls that had survived the fire. The Monte di Pietà was inaugurated in 1533, and the finishing touches were completed over the following two years. Among the most notable works are the fresco by Domenico Campagnola depicting Bernardino da Feltre, the friar who founded the Monte dei Pegni in Padua, and the stucco Pietà by Silvio Cosini on the façade. In 1607, expansion work began on the Via Monte di Pietà. During this period, the frescoes by Battista Bissoni and Gaspare Giona and the statue by Giovan Battista Albanese were completed. In 1822, the building was purchased by the Cassa di Risparmio di Padova e Rovigo. Two new internal wings were built in 1861, giving the building its current proportions. In 1990, major restoration work was carried out on the building. The property is now owned by Banca Intesa San Paolo.