Palazzo della Ragione

Ancient Padua can be glimpsed in elegant twin squares framed by arcades, the Piazza delle Erbe and Piazza della Frutta, separated by the triple- decker Gothic Palazzo della Ragione, the city’s tribunal dating from 1218. Inside, frescoes by Giotto acolytes Giusto de’ Menabuoi and Nicolò Mireto depict the astrological theories of Pietro d’Abano, with images representing the months, seasons, saints, animals and noteworthy Paduans (not necessarily in that order). Unfortunately, the frescoes had to be restored after fire in 1420 and storm damage in 1756, so most of the original work was lost.