RECORD Car Rental at Bergamo Airport

Like other major car rental providers in the Lombardy region of Northern Italy, Record Rent at Milan Bergamo Airport provides a great selection of vehicles at competitive prices that will allow visitors to make the most of their stay in Bergamo or Milan.

Bergamo is perfectly placed for a great number of splendid city destinations that can be covered in a day. Padua is a historic gem and lies within less than 2 hours drive of Bergamo. En route visitors can stop off at the ancient city of Verona, where Shakespeare's play Romeo and Juliet is set.

With car hire from Record Rent Milan Bergamo Airport the 122 miles or 196 km to Padua can be covered in comfort, privacy and style. While a small and easy to drive Peugeot 107 can seat 4 passengers, it is not really suited to longer drives but is perfect for a day out sightseeing in Milan, just like Record Rent's Fiat Panda, Ford Ka or Ford Fiesta.

For a 2 hour car journey from Bergamo to Padua the Fiat Brava from Record Rent Milan Bergamo Airport offers more leg-room and seats 5 people quite comfortably.

The rental fee includes excess reimbursement in case of accident with damage to tires and windshield, unlimited mileage, fire insurance and liability insurance, collision damage waiver, theft protection, airport surcharge and vehicle licence fee as well as all local taxes such as VAT. However, the rental fee does not include fuel.

Also seating 5 passengers, the Nissan NV features air conditioning and manual transmission, but lacks perhaps in summer-time appeal when it comes to design. For drives into the countryside with the roof top down and the wind rushing through one's hair one cannot fault the convertibles from Record Rent - the Peugeot 206 convertible seats up to 4 fashion conscious friends at a very competitive rate.

Padua or, as it is called in Italian, Padova, lies within the Veneto region, meaning it is close to Venice. Upon reaching the city it is usually best to leave the rental car from Record Rent in a free municipal car park and traverse the historic city on foot or by renting a bike. Thankfully, the city is quite flat, so not strenuous to master on foot or by pedal power.

There are some splendid Roman bridges to admire as well as some amazing tourist attractions like the Basilica di Sant'Antoni, a highlight on the pilgrim's trail or the Capella degli Scrovegni in Corso Garibaldi, which showcases some wonderful frescoes by Giotto, completed between 1303 and 1305.

The Capella also houses the Eremitani Civic Museum and the Contemporary Art Museum, making it a must-see for anyone who is interested in fine art.

But the main attraction of Padua is still the enormous Prato della Valle, Europe's largest historic square and a fantastic place to hang out in spring and summer, making new friends or meeting up with existing ones for people-watching and a cone or two of Italian ice cream.

Initially a Roman theater, the square was completely remodeled in 1775 and is today home to the imposing Saint Giustina Basilica and a statue-lined canal. Hosting an interesting, regular Saturday market that is mostly frequented by residents and the occasional tourist, the square attracts thousands of visitors when concerts are being staged there or international fairs.

Padua's Duomo or Padua Cathedral was partly designed by Michelangelo and while it may not be as enormous as other Italian cathedrals - like the one in Milan for example - it has some wonderful attractions to offer. Boasting not one but two baptisteries that are brimming over with wonderful frescoes, Padua's Duomo is a highlight on every pilgrim's itinerary.

After a long day's sightseeing in Padua it is a relief not to have to share a noisy train compartment or endure an uncomfortable seat on an overcrowded tourist coach for the return to Milan or Bergamo. So much nicer to climb back into the rental car from Record Rent Milan Airport and find a quiet spot outside Padua, where one can enjoy a refreshing picnic of Parma ham, Milanese cheese and freshly baked Padua bread before heading back to the hotel in Bergamo or Milan in comfort and style!