Palazzo del Bo e Teatro Anatomico

Palazzo del Bo is the historic seat of the University of Padua. Its arcaded courtyards, anatomical theatre and ceremonial rooms connect the architecture of a university palace with the history of teaching, medicine and scientific exchange.

Why it matters

The university dates to 1222, while the palace developed through later acquisitions and rebuilding. The permanent anatomical theatre, commissioned by Girolamo Fabrici d'Acquapendente in 1594 and inaugurated in 1595, gave the study of anatomy a purpose-built setting.

What to notice

Six concentric wooden tiers form the theatre's steep, inverted-cone interior around the dissection space. The Cortile Antico has two levels of colonnades and numerous coats of arms. In the Sala dei Quaranta, forty portraits commemorate distinguished foreign students associated with the university. The room also preserves the wooden chair traditionally associated with Galileo.

Context and history

Andrea Moroni's sixteenth-century work helped shape the historic courtyard. The anatomical theatre remained in use until its final lecture in 1874. Twentieth-century interventions, including Gio Ponti's work on the Aula Magna, added a modern ceremonial layer to the older academic complex.