Caffè Pedrocchi in Padova
After the marathon had finished, or at least until I saw my friend Giacomo finish in a triumphant celebration as he passed my viewing point on via Roma, I decided to enjoy some of the beautiful day and explore Padova more thoroughly. I wandered back towards the main center of town and found myself standing in front of a Caffè Pedrocchi.
Caffè Pedrocchi is in the heart of Padova, near Piazza Bo and the University. The ground floor is divided into three different rooms, a green room, a white room, and a red room...all signifying the colors of the Italian national flag. It was built between 1826 and 1831 in pure neo-classic style. It is from this that, in 1938, next to the South entrance "The Pedrocchino" was built in strict neo-gothic taste in order to house the confectioners shop for making all of their own pastries. On the upper floor there are magnificent rooms, each one furnished with a different theme. There is the Herculaneuan Room, the Greek Room, Renaissance Room, and my personal favorite the Egyptian Room. There is also a great ballroom dedicated to Rossini, who was a friend of architect, Jappelli.The caffè immediately became the hub of city life. It was frequented by professors and students from the University that was nearby in Piazza Bo and was the hub of the Resorgimental uprisings in 1848.
The interior is classy. The center white room is where you will find the bar and there are tables surrounding the open air space. The drinks are a little expensive but well worth the indulgence. In the evenings it becomes more of a wine bar for the upscale patrons of Padova, but students are also welcome and not turned away. They employ a DJ that usually has a mix of house, reggae, jazz, and fusion playing in the background. The drinks are served with a wide variety of things to nibble on at the bar.
If the weather is nice, it becomes the caffè without doors and is completely open-aired. There are also some tables seated outside on the patio area between the entrances with the Lions. At any rate, this is a quick stop that must not be over-looked when you are visiting Padova. It's great any time of day.