Padua ( [ ˈpædju.ə ] or [ ˈpædʒu.ə ] , Padova [ ˈpaːdova ] ; Pàdova ) is a city and comune in Veneto , northern Italy . It is the capital of the province of Padua and the economic and communications hub of the area . Padua stands on the Bacchiglione River , 40 km west of Venice and 29 km southeast of Vicenza . To the city 's south west lies the Euganaean Hills , praised by Lucan and Martial , Petrarch , Ugo Foscolo , and Shelley . It hosts the University of Padua , founded in 1222 , where Galileo Galilei was a lecturer .
Padua is a location.