Abbazia di Santa Giustina — Attraction in Padua

The Abbey of Santa Giustina is a 10th-century Benedictine abbey complex located in front of the Prato della Valle in central of Padua. Adjacent to the former monastery is the basilica church of Santa Giustina, initially built in the 6th century, but whose present form derives from a 17th-century reconstruction. The basilica is monumental from the Prato della Valle is well visible. A church dedicated to the St Justina of Padua and of other 4th century Christian martyrs of Padua, was present at the site by the 520s, erected under the patronage of the Prefect Opilius and housing the relics of the saint. The church was already described as lavish in decoration in the 565 biography of Life of St Martin, written by Venantius Fortunatus. By the 10th century, pilgrims who came to the basilica to venerate the saints' relics, were ministered by monks. In 971, Bishop of Padua placed the community under the Rule of St. Benedict. The complex of the Abbey of Santa Giustina includes the large Basilica with eight domes and the rich monastery, of which it is possible to visit the Cloister of the Chapter, built in the 12th century in Romanesque style and the Main Cloister, also called the Painted Cloister for the many frescoes that decorated it. The interior of the Basilica of Santa Giustina, vast and bright, one of the greatest masterpieces of Renaissance architecture, has a Latin cross shape and is divided into three naves by large pillars. For dimensions (122 meters long) Santa Giustina is the ninth among the churches in the world, also marked in the floor of St. Peter's Basilica in Rome. To the right and left of the side aisles there are twenty chapels, ten on one side and ten on the other. They are painted with masterpieces by famous Renaissance masters such as Giacomo Ceruti, Pietro Damini, Bernardo Falcone, Luca Giordano, Pietro Liberi and the greatest of all...

This is a must-visit for me if you are coming to Padua. I will even recommend this church over the Basilica of St. Anthony of Padua. You will be able to see many beautiful side chapels (too many to be named here), artwork and relics of Saints, most notably St. Luke (left side) and St. Matthias (right side). Under the High Altar is also the body of St. Justina of Padua, one of the patrons of the city.

Behind the Chapel of St. Matthias lies the Corridor of Martyrs, where you will find the Well of Martyrs and an old cage, which is believed to have transported the relics of St. Luke here.

One hour will be a reasonable time to spend here. I will also highly recommend attending the Conventual Mass if you have time. The chanting and singing by the monks are simply beautiful and touching. When I was there, they were chanting Vespers in the chapel, and I thought it was music being played on an...

The Abbey of Santa Giustina is a 10th-century Benedictine abbey complex located in front of the Prato della Valle in central Padua, region of Veneto, Italy. Adjacent to the former monastery is the basilica church of Santa Giustina, initially built in the 6th century, but whose present form derives from a 17th-century reconstruction. A church dedicated to the St Justina of Padua and of other 4th century Christian martyrs of Padua, was present at the site by the 520s, erected under the patronage of the Prefect Opilius and housing the relics of the saint. The church was already described as lavish in decoration in the 565 biography of Life of St Martin, written by Venantius Fortunatus. By the 10th century, pilgrims who came to the basilica to venerate the saints' relics, were ministered by monks. In 971, Bishop of Padua placed the community under the Rule of St. Benedict. ...