Padova

I first visited Padova in 2012 as part of the Rick Steves,  Village Italy Tour, I felt an immediate connection to the town. Maybe it was my affinity to Sant'Antonio di Padova  or the fact that it is a college town, or the great outdoor markets.  I feel at home in Padova. I remember that early one morning I went to mass at St. Anthony's Basilica. Really, I don't go to mass even when I'm in the US, but somehow it felt right at the time, get up at the crack to catch a 7 am mass, in italian.... At the time I was learning italian and I was not quite proficient as I am now, but there's one thing about catholic mass, they follow a certain script, so it is like riding a bicycle, all those years of catholic school coming back, and while everyone spoke italian and I responded in spanish. 
I went to mass last Saturday, now I can understand the priest and blend with the locals.  No I don't get the urge to go to mass every time I'm near a church in Italy, but there is always good energy at la casa d'il Santo