3 Things to do in Padua Italy
for the Science lovers
There are plenty of things to do in Padua if you are passionate about Science.
The Veneto’s city of the Saint has a long scientific tradition, since the foundation of its prestigious University in 1222.
Thus there is no better place in Veneto than Padua for a getaway around museums of science.
Speaking about cultural attractions in Padua, there are three basic places to visit.
Things to do in Padua Italy: Padua University Anatomy Theatre
Built in 1594, it was the first permanent structure of this type in Europe.
It is located in the ancient seat of the Padua University, called Palazzo del Bo, and it is open to guided visits.
The hall hosts over 300 seats, meant for students following the anatomy lessons. The cone-shaped elliptic theatre - still perfectly preserved - allowed student to observe easily every detail of the dissections of corpses placed in a table at the center of the theatre. Even the table you'll see is the original one.
In a adjacent room you can have a look at all the surgical tools used at the time.
Take advantage of your visit at the Padua University Anatomy Theatre to visit other rooms of the Palazzo del Bo, like the Aula Magna, covered in coat of arms, and the Sala dei Quaranta, allegedly the room where Galileo Galilei used to lecture.
Also have a look at the Sala del Senato Accademico, with busts of the Venetian Doges who managed the University activities over the centuries.
The Sala della Facoltà di Medicina (Medicine faculty room) displays the skulls of seven Professors who voluntarily donated their body to science, and the pictures of eminent scholars who worked here, like the anatomists Eustachio (hence Eustachian tube), Falloppio (hence Fallopian tube), Morgagni (born in 1682 and considered the father of modern anatomical pathology), and Vesalius.
Address:Palazzo del Bo, via 8 Febbraio 2 - Padova
Visiting hours:
Wintertime:
Mon-Wed-Fri 3.15pm – 4.15 pm – 5.15pm
Tue- Thu- Sat 9.15am – 10.15am – 11.15am
Summertime:
Mon-Wed-Fri 3.15pm – 4.15pm – 5.15pm
Tue-Thu-Sat 9.15am-10.15am-11.15 am
Tickets: From €1,50 to 3,00€
Booking required for groups and school children
Things to do in Padua Italy: Botanical Gardens
It was founded in 1545 when Padua was part of the Venice Republic.
It was the first University Botanical Garden of Europe, and thanks to its beauty and value was listed in the Heritage World List in 1997.
If you like the botanical science, you’ll enjoy this place, hosting a huge variety of plants and trees - over 6000 types - mostly outdoor.
Each of them is labeled with their therapeutical properties and scientific noun.
You’ll feast your eyes among insectivorous (or carnivorous) plants, venonimous plants, aquatic, mediterranean, alpine, etc.
Do not miss the so called Goethe tree, the oldest in the garden, planted in 1585.
Then a big plane tree of 1680 and an over 250 years old gingko biloba.
There is also a library very rich in ancient herbal books.
Read here a lot more details and photos of the Padua University Botanic garden.
Address: via Orto Botanico 15, Padua.
Visiting time:
April-October: 9am – 1pm and 3pm – 6pm
Sunday: 9am – 1pm
closed on Monday and public holidays ph 049 - 82 72 119
Things to do in Padua: Astronomical Observatory
Astronomers of the likes of Galileo Galilei and the Polish Copernicus studied and lectured at the Padua University way before the Padua’s Astronomical Observatory was built in 1767-1777, commissioned by the Padua University.
The octagonal upper hall of the Observatory, built incorporating the tower of an old castle, is placed 35mt above the ground. It features wide windows allowing people to look out into the sky in any direction.
In the adjacent museum are displayed ancient telescopes dating back to 1700-1800.
Nowadays the Observatory is still working, but there is also a branch office in the Asiago plateau, a more effective place than Padua, being located in a more isolated and higher area than the Città del Santo.
Padua Astronomical Observatory Official Website
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