Padova
Padova (Latin Patavium, Italian Padova) is a city located in the north of Italy at 40 kilometers of Venice.
The basilica San Antonio
Most famous church of Padova is the basilica dedicated to saint Antoine de Padova, called here It Santo (the Saint).
Its relics are preserved in a richly decorated carved marble vault, work of various artists of which Sansovino and Falconetto.
The basilica was started in 1230 and its construction continued over several centuries.
Saint Antoine de Padova
It was canonized on May 30, 1232 by the pope Gregoire IX. The worship of saint Antoine de Padova was spread especially in XVe and XVIe centuries. He became the national saint of Portugal, whose explorers made known it whole world. He is thus the owner of the sailors, the shipwrecked men and the prisoners.
From the XVIIe century, holy Antoine de Padova was also called upon to find the lost objects, then to recover health, and finally for exaucer a wish. The idea to call upon holy Antoine to find the lost objects comes owing to the fact that a robber who had concealed his comments to him on the Psalms felt obliged to return them to him.
Many supernatural episodes are allotted to him, like to have held one night the Jesus Child in his arms.
On the place in front of this church an equestrian statue of Erasmo da Narni, Venetian General (1438-1441), carried out by Donatello.
