Less than a 30-minute ride on the high-speed train from Venice, Padua is too often disregarded from the majority of visitors. Yet, it makes for a great day trip from Venice, offering a glimpse into the rich history of a city that once was a powerful Comune.

Home to Italy’s second oldest university, founded in 1222, Padua has retained the vivacious atmosphere of a university town, with lively piazzas and arcaded streets, plenty of cafés and bars where the ubiquitous Spritz is de rigueur as the day winds into evening. If you’re in town for just one day, here are the five things you shouldn’t miss.