A journey through legends and curiosities of one of Italy’s most mysterious cities

I’ve lived in Padua for almost 15 years now, yet it still finds ways to surprise me. This beautiful city hides fascinating stories — little mysteries and quirky facts that often sound more like legends than history.

A few days ago , a friend asked me why there was no platform 4 at the Padova station, something which i think the millions of people that go through the station each year maybe didn’t even realise let alone contemplated. This got me to thinking how many of these famous mysteries does the city of the three “senza” (withouts) actually have.

Here are just a few reasons why Padua is often called “The City of the Three Withouts”… and maybe even more!

📍 The Column Without a Pillar – Piazza delle Erbe

Have you ever noticed a capital (column)  suspended without a supporting column beneath it? Legend says it was stolen by jealous neighbors from Vicenza. In truth, it was likely left that way to allow carts easier access under the portico during the market days.

🚆 The Station Without Track 4

As we mentioned earlier it’s a detail that’s easy to miss: Padua’s train station skips platform 4! While the rails are physically there (between tracks 3 and 5), there’s no passenger platform — this has led to some fanciful stories about the original architect and his fourth wife amongst others, but the truth is it’s reserved for freight trains only and doesn’t need passenger access.

☕ The Café Without Doors – Caffè Pedrocchi

One of the city’s most iconic buildings, Caffè Pedrocchi, was once famously always open — day and night — until 1916. It only began closing in the evenings to avoid drawing attention during World War I air raids.

🕰️ The Clock Without Libra – Torre dell’Orologio

Look up at the astronomical clock in Piazza dei Signori, and you’ll notice something strange — one zodiac sign is missing. Libra. Some say it was revenge by the clockmaker over a pay dispute. In reality, Libra wasn’t yet recognized as a separate constellation in ancient Greek astronomy so wouldn’t have been included, however a more recent addition has put the Libra symbol somewhere in the square and here is your new challenge to find it!

🐂 The Ox Without Horns – Palazzo del Bo

The emblem of the University of Padua is a hornless ox skull (a bucranio). This symbol traces back to an old inn, Hospitium Bovis, which once stood where the university now resides. It was near the butcher’s street — today’s Via Cesare Battisti.

🌿 The Lawn Without Grass – Prato della Valle

Prato della Valle is now a lush green square, but it wasn’t always so. Originally a marshy area, it was transformed by Andrea Memmo in the 18th century for commercial use. The name “Prato” (lawn) is a bit of a historical irony.

🙏 The Saint Without a Name – Saint Anthony

In Padua, when people say “The Saint,” they’re always referring to Saint Anthony — no need for names. His fame is so widespread that both the Basilica and the city are known by this simple yet respectful nickname.

🐴 The Horse Without a Rider – Palazzo della Ragione

Inside this historic palace stands a massive wooden horse, inspired by Donatello’s equestrian statue of Gattamelata. But unlike its bronze twin, this version is missing its rider.

⛪ The Cathedral Without a Facade – Padua Cathedral

The Basilica of Santa Maria Assunta was completed in the 1700s, but the majestic front facade designed by architect Girolamo Frigimelica was never finished — and was even damaged during World War I.

🔔 The Bell Tower Without a Church

Visible from the street at the corner of Via San Fermo and Via G. Cittadella, this lone bell tower once belonged to a church that has since disappeared through the ages.

I hope you found something interesting here, whether you are new to the city, studying here or have even lived here all your life: Padova is an amazing city and one that we at Studio Inglese are proud to call home.

As language and culture go hand in hand. At our English language school, we love helping students explore not just vocabulary and grammar, but also the stories that make places like Padua so unique. Whether you live here or are just visiting, these tales add a whole new layer of meaning to the streets you walk every day.

Have you heard of any other “things without” in Padua or even in your own hometown ? We’d love to hear them