Padova

Padova is fantastic, we haven't been back since the first time that we came to Italy many years ago.  It is much more vibrant than I remember.  Of all of the places that we've been to Padova is the city that we could both live in -but it's not going to happen unless we win lotto :)
http://www.padovanet.it/index.jsp

It is vibrant - lots of young people and things going on -even Gogol Bordello are playing there soon :), beautiful buildings, on the main train line etc
The shopping is great, food really good - lots of great markets and food shops.  Had some gelati today which even outdoes Giolitti in Rome and the gelati shops in Bologna.  Pretto Gelato Arte Italia, Via Umberto 1, Padova has the best gelati that either of us have had.
www.gelatopretto.it

Padova is another wealthy city in the Veneto region and has restored many of its beautiful buildings and many more are currently being restored. SO many beautiful places to look at and photograph. We had a good time wandering around and also window shopped -too much choice and I couldn't make up my mind what to get.

Have included a few photos of cheese shops near the markets at Piazza delle Erbe for those of you who have bought  a great chunk of parmigiano in the past and carried it through Italy in a back pack :)

Little kids having fun playing soccer out the front of a church -lots of noise -they made good use of the church doors and walls!