After an exciting day exploring Venice, I purchased several day passes for the water bus system. The next morning, I left the hotel at 7:30am and walked to the nearest water bus dock.

I took the water bus ferry to the Venice train station for a day trip to Padua, Italy. Within a half hour train ride, I was in Padua.

I had a list of things I wanted to see but after nine miles of walking the day before, I decided to narrow the sightseeing to two main sites – the Basilica di Sant Antonio and the Prato dell Valle.

From the train station in Padua, it was a 25-minute walk to the basilica. It was a beautiful day and lots of great things to see.

The **Basilica of Saint Anthony** in Padua is a minor basilica of the Roman Catholic Church. Groundbreaking for this basilica took place in 1232 – one year after the death of Saint Anthony. The basilica was completed in 1310.

Growing up in Brooklyn, New York, my parish was run by the Franciscan priests. It brought back fond memories to see the priests in their brown hooded robes.

Once again, beauty was displayed in each corner of the basilica.

To ensure I saw everything, I began by walking to the right of the basilica. There was a chapel with a sign indicating that this was a place of prayer. I knew as soon as I saw the red candle that there was a tabernacle on the altar with the consecrated host. Jesus was present and I was happy to sit in His presence.

I was pleasantly surprised at the number of people, both locals and visitors, who stopped by the chapel and spent time in prayer. It was a beautiful site.

On the opposite side of the basilica from the chapel was a sign indicating the tomb of Saint Anthony.

What an amazing structure.

As I walked toward the tomb, on the walls were magnificent statues depicting stories of the life of Saint Anthony and how he helped so many during his ministry on earth.

The back part of the tomb was simple.

People from all over the world placed their hands on the tomb offering a prayer to Saint Anthony requesting his intercession.

Saint Anthony was born in Portugal and was a friar of the Franciscan Order. He was a powerful preacher and an expert in the knowledge of scripture with an undying love and devotion to the poor and sick. Saint Anthony was declared a Doctor of the Church by Pope Pius XII in 1946. Saint Anthony is the patron saint of sailors, fishermen, priests, and travelers. He is also our go to saint when things are lost. His feast day is June 13.

As I placed my hand in prayer on the tomb of Saint Anthony, I thought about all the things I had lost and then found in my lifetime, but more important, how I was lost and how far I have come on this road of life. It is comforting to have Saint Anthony pray for us as we move through life and sometimes lose our way. Thank you, Saint Anthony!

Saint Anthony of Padua – pray for us!

Down another corridor of the basilica, I entered the Chapel of the Relics.

This was an amazing room that displayed the virtues practiced by Saint Anthony – ***faith, humility, penitence, and charity.***

Saint Anthony’s woolen cassock was also on display in this chapel.

As I was admiring the beautiful pieces in the Chapel, I heard a bell ring signifying the start of Mass. Going to Mass in the Basilica of Saint Anthony was a perfect way to spend time in beautiful Padua, Italy.

After touring the basilica, I headed to the largest square in Italy – the Prato della Valle.