Palazzo del Bo guided tour – University of Padua
The Palazzo del Bo is the historic seat of the University of Padua, one of the oldest universities in the world and the second in Italy after Bologna. Founded in 1222, the University of Padua has always been a symbol of freedom of thought and research, embodied in the famous motto “Universa universis patavina libertas”.
Today the university has 8 Schools, 32 Departments and over 60,000 students, confirming its position as one of the leading university centers in Europe.
Origin of the name and historic seat
The institutional seat of the university is located in the heart of Padua’s historic center, opposite the Town Hall. The name Palazzo del Bo derives from the ancient medieval inn “Hospitium Bovis” (the “ox” inn), which stood in this very area.
The architectural complex includes parts dating back to the 13th century, but was profoundly transformed and expanded in the mid-16th century, taking on the monumental appearance that still characterizes it today.
The Ancient Courtyard and university coats of arms
One of the most evocative spaces is the Ancient Courtyard, with its double order of columns. The walls and ceilings are decorated with hundreds of heraldic coats of arms, painted or in relief, celebrating rectors and students from all over Europe: an extraordinary testimony to the international dimension of the University of Padua even in the early modern period.
The historic rooms of the Palace
The guided tour provides access to the most representative spaces of the palace:
- Great Hall, heart of academic ceremonies
- Hall of the Forty, which takes its name from the forty portraits of celebrated students of the university who lived between the 13th and 19th centuries
- Galileo Galilei’s lectern, according to tradition preserved in this hall, in memory of the great scientist’s long teaching career in Padua
The Anatomical Theatre
The most famous place in Palazzo del Bo is undoubtedly the Anatomical Theatre, built in 1594.
It is the first permanent anatomical theatre in the world and is still perfectly preserved.
The wooden structure has an elliptical inverted cone shape, with six concentric tiers of steps arranged around the anatomical table, where public dissections took place. Next to the theatre is the so-called “kitchen”, the space where bodies were prepared, now home to a small permanent exhibition.
Visiting arrangements
- Access to the interior spaces is possible exclusively through guided tours
- Indicative hours:
- Monday, Wednesday, Friday: afternoon
- Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday: morning
- Booking mandatory only for groups (minimum 10 people)
- For fewer than 10 people no booking is required: simply arrive at the ticket office 15 minutes before the chosen time
Why choose Veneto TourGuide for Palazzo del Bo
- Customized itineraries
- Continuous training of professionals
- Reliability and concreteness
- A single contact for all of Veneto
Choose the experience and professionalism of our authorized guides.
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