Giardini dell’Arena, Padova

Gardens in Padova

CC BY-SA 3.0 / Mister No

Giardini dell'Arena is one of the best places to visit in Padua when you need a breather from churches and busy piazzas. This beautifully maintained park sits right in the city centre, yet feels wonderfully calm, with curving pathways, flowerbeds, lawns and carefully pruned trees and bushes creating a soft green frame around some of Padua's most important historic remains. On one side, you have the world-famous Scrovegni Chapel, home to Giotto's extraordinary fresco cycle; on the other, the ruins of a Roman amphitheatre dating back to the time of Emperor Augustus.

It is an easy place to fall into a slower rhythm: locals strolling, students reading on benches, visitors pausing before or after their timed entry to the chapel. The combination of nature, art and archaeology is unusually rich for such a compact space, and the park is a highlight of any walking tour of Padua if you enjoy the contrast between quiet greenery and millennia of history on display at its edges.

History and Significance of the Giardini dell’Arena
Things to See and Do in the Giardini dell’Arena
How to Get to the Giardini dell’Arena
Practical Tips on Visiting the Giardini dell’Arena
Where to Stay close to the Giardini dell’Arena
Is the Giardini dell’Arena Worth Visiting
FAQs for Visiting Giardini dell’Arena
Nearby Attractions to the Giardini dell’Arena

History and Significance of the Giardini dell’Arena

The name Giardini dell'Arena comes from the Roman arena whose remains still mark one side of the park. In Augustan times (roughly 30 BC to AD 14), this area lay just outside the core of ancient Patavium and hosted an amphitheatre used for public spectacles. Over the centuries, the arena fell into ruin, its stone reused elsewhere in the city, leaving only partial walls and foundations. These fragments now form a dramatic backdrop at the edge of the gardens, a reminder that entertainment has long been a part of life on this ground.

In the Middle Ages and early Renaissance, the area evolved, with new constructions rising alongside the ancient remains. The most famous of these is the Scrovegni Chapel, commissioned in the early 14th century by Enrico Scrovegni and decorated by Giotto with a cycle of frescoes that would shape the future of Western art. Today the chapel is one of Padua's great treasures, and the gardens around it provide a natural, quiet space where visitors can gather before and after their visit, reflecting on what they have seen.

Over time, the site was formalised as a public park, laid out with walkways, trees and flowerbeds to create a gentle, inviting space for the city. Its historic layers - Roman arena, medieval and Renaissance constructions, and modern landscaping - make Giardini dell'Arena an evocative place to understand Padua's long story. The park's proximity to the Scrovegni Chapel and other cultural institutions also makes it a natural pause point in any exploration of the city's art and history.

Things to See and Do in the Giardini dell’Arena

The simplest pleasure here is just to wander. Follow the walking paths that wind between lawns, trees and flowerbeds, finding your own favourite bench or viewpoint. The gardens are carefully maintained, but they still feel relaxed rather than overly formal, which makes them a pleasant spot to sit with a coffee, a book or a takeaway snack from nearby cafés.

Make time to walk down towards the remains of the Roman amphitheatre at the far end of the park. Although only fragments survive, you can trace the curve of the original structure and imagine the crowds that once gathered here for performances and games. The contrast between the ancient brickwork and the soft greenery of the modern park is striking and makes for memorable photographs.

On the other side of the gardens stands the Scrovegni Chapel complex. Even if your main focus is Giotto's frescoes inside, use the park paths to approach the chapel from different angles and appreciate how it sits within the broader Arena complex. Between the chapel, the arena remains and the quiet lawns, the park becomes an ideal place to pause between museum visits, reset your pace, and enjoy a bit of shade on hot days. If you are exploring Padua on foot, Giardini dell'Arena works well as a green “break point” between the railway station area and the historic core around Piazza delle Erbe and Piazza dei Signori.

How to Get to the Giardini dell’Arena

Giardini dell'Arena is located in central Padua, close to the Scrovegni Chapel and within easy reach of both the railway station and the historic centre. If you are arriving from further afield, the nearest major airport is Venice Marco Polo, with Treviso Airport also serving many flights into the region; from either airport you can continue by bus, shuttle or train via Mestre or Venice to Padua, then walk or take local transport to the gardens. For the best deals and a seamless booking experience, check out these flights to Padova on Booking.com.

By train, travel to Padova railway station, which is served by frequent regional and high-speed services from Venice, Verona, Vicenza, Bologna and Milan. Use Omnio to easily compare schedules, book train tickets, and find the best prices all in one place for a hassle-free journey across Italy. From the station, it is roughly a 10-15 minute walk to Giardini dell'Arena: simply follow signs towards the Scrovegni Chapel and civic museums, and you will find the park right beside them. Several local buses also connect the station area with stops near Corso Garibaldi if you prefer a shorter walk.

If you are driving, Padua is conveniently located near the A4 and A13 motorways, with signposted exits leading into the city. If you are looking to rent a car in Italy I recommend having a look at Discover Cars, first, as they compare prices and review multiple car rental agencies for you. Park in one of the car parks near the station or around the edge of the old town, then continue on foot; Giardini dell'Arena sits just off Corso Garibaldi and via Giotto, with access from the square featuring the Garibaldi monument or from via Porciglia. Once parked, you will likely find it easiest to explore this part of the city entirely on foot.

Practical Tips on Visiting the Giardini dell’Arena

Suggested tips: Use the gardens as a calm waiting area before or after your timed slot for the Scrovegni Chapel; bring a bottle of water, and consider combining your visit with nearby museums for a full morning or afternoon.
Best time to visit: Late morning or late afternoon offer pleasant light and temperatures, especially in spring and autumn; evenings in summer can be particularly atmospheric and cooler after a hot day.
Entrance fee: Free
Opening hours: 7:00 am - 6:00 pm
Official website: https://www.comune.padova.it/parchi-storici-di-padova
How long to spend: Around 30-60 minutes is usually enough to stroll the paths, visit the amphitheatre remains and relax on a bench; allow longer if you pair the visit with the Scrovegni Chapel.
Accessibility: The main paths are mostly level and suitable for wheelchairs or strollers, though some surfaces may be gravel; entrances from the Garibaldi monument side and via Porciglia are generally straightforward.
Facilities: There are benches and shaded areas within the gardens; cafés, bars, shops and restrooms can be found just outside the park around Corso Garibaldi and nearby streets.
Photography tip: Frame shots that include both greenery and stone - the amphitheatre ruins against lawns, or the Scrovegni Chapel rising beyond trees; early morning and golden hour give especially soft colours.
Guided tours: Many guided tours of Padua's fresco sites include the Scrovegni Chapel; ask whether your tour allows time to wander the gardens, or simply arrive early to explore on your own.
Nearby food options: Pick up pastries, coffee or gelato from cafés around Corso Garibaldi and enjoy them on a bench, or walk a little further into the historic centre for more substantial meals.

Where to Stay close to the Giardini dell’Arena

If you want easy access to Giardini dell'Arena and the Scrovegni Chapel, staying near the northern edge of the historic centre or close to the railway station works well. Hotel Milano offers comfortable accommodation within walking distance of both the station and the gardens, making it convenient if you are arriving by train. For a more central option that still keeps you close to the park, Hotel Majestic Toscanelli sits in the heart of the old town, about a 10-15 minute walk away, ideal if you also want to explore the main piazzas. Another good choice is Europa Hotel Padova, positioned between the station and the historic centre, with straightforward access to Giardini dell'Arena and other key sights.

Is the Giardini dell’Arena Worth Visiting

Giardini dell'Arena is definitely worth including in your Padua itinerary, especially if you are planning to visit the Scrovegni Chapel. The park gives you space to decompress before or after viewing Giotto's intense fresco cycle, and the presence of the Roman amphitheatre ruins adds an extra historical dimension that many visitors do not expect. It is rare to find a spot where you can sit under trees, look across to one of the world's greatest frescoed chapels, and turn to see traces of a first-century Roman arena within a few minutes' walk.

For travellers exploring Padua on foot, the gardens also provide a valuable green pause between the station area and the denser streets of the old town. Whether you are a history fan, an art lover or simply someone who appreciates a well-kept city park with a story to tell, Giardini dell'Arena more than earns its place among the must-see places in Padua.

What Other Travellers Say...

Reviews Summary

4.3 (140)

Arena Romana di Padova, on Piazza Eremitani 8, is a small archaeological site where visitors note remnants of an amphitheater and some interesting artwork; it can be a pleasant spot to wander—especially when linden trees are in bloom—but some visitors report overgrown grass, gated areas that may be closed before posted hours, and inconsistent visitor services or communication.

John Taseff

a year ago

"All the gates around the arena ruins itself were closed a couple hours before their posted closing time, and the grass looks overgrown, not sure it'seven open to the public any more..."

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Marcus Lodwick

a year ago

"Well, to call it an amphitheater is an insult to amphitheaters...as it's a just a small section of uninteresting interior wall. But, hey, not everytown has an amphitheater (Narrator: actually most Italian cities do)...."

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Achilleas Dermanis

7 years ago

"Very bad experience. We are 4 archeologists students and we came to padova to see the town and of course the museum as well the Chappell ofscrovegni. The service was awful and they don't even speak English as a result the communication was difficult and they force us to visit only the museum. They couldn't explain us how can we enter the Chappell. Grazie. For the other visitors be more prepared...."

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FAQs for Visiting Giardini dell’Arena

The gardens are located in central Padua, next to the Scrovegni Chapel, with entrances from the square with the Garibaldi monument at the junction of Corso Garibaldi and via Giotto, and from via Porciglia.

No, Giardini dell’Arena is a public park and entry is free; separate tickets are required only for the Scrovegni Chapel and nearby museums.

You can walk up to and view the surviving remains of the Roman amphitheatre from within the park, although access is usually limited to paths and designated viewing areas.

Policies can vary, but dogs are often permitted if kept on a lead and under control; check local signage at the entrances for current rules.

Yes, the gardens have trees and planted areas that provide shade, making them a pleasant place to rest during warmer months, especially in the morning and late afternoon.

Nearby Attractions to the Giardini dell’Arena

Scrovegni Chapel: World-famous 14th-century chapel decorated with Giotto's frescoes, located immediately next to the gardens.
Museum of the Eremitani: An important archaeological and art museum nearby, ideal to combine with a visit to the park and chapel.
Palazzo della Ragione: The vast medieval “Salone” with frescoed walls and a historic covered market, a short walk into the historic centre.
Piazza delle Erbe and Piazza dei Frutti: Lively twin market squares where you can experience Padua’s everyday bustle, cafés and stalls.
Padua University Botanical Garden: The world’s oldest university botanical garden still in its original location, offering a peaceful green escape within walking distance of the city centre.

The Giardini dell’Arena appears in our Complete Guide to Visiting Padova!

Moira & Andy

Hey! We're Moira & Andy. From hiking the Camino to trips around Europe in Bert our campervan — we've been traveling together since retirement in 2020!

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