When was the University of Padua founded?
The University of Padua was founded in 1222, making it one of the oldest universities in the world and the second university in Italy after Bologna. It currently enrols around 72,000 students.
Questions about Padua
Short answers, pulled from the story.
What did Galileo Galilei do in Padua?
In 1610, Galileo Galilei observed the moons of Jupiter through a homemade telescope while living in Padua. This observation marked the second phase of the Copernican Revolution. Galileo taught at the University of Padua.
Who was the first woman in the world to graduate from a university?
Elena Lucrezia Cornaro Piscopia became the first woman in the world to graduate from a university in 1678, earning her degree at the University of Padua.
What is the Scrovegni Chapel in Padua?
The Scrovegni Chapel is a private chapel in Padua commissioned by the banker Enrico degli Scrovegni and decorated with a fresco cycle completed by Giotto in 1305. The cycle depicts the life of the Virgin Mary and includes one of the earliest representations of a kiss in art. Visitors must pass through a climate-controlled airlocked vault before entering to protect the frescoes.
What UNESCO World Heritage Sites are in Padua?
Padua has two UNESCO World Heritage List entries: its Botanical Garden, which is the oldest in the world, founded in 1545, and its 14th-century frescoes located in buildings in the city centre, including the Scrovegni Chapel.
What happened to Padua during World War II?
Allied aircraft bombed Padua twenty-four times between December 1943 and the end of the war. The heaviest raids each caused around 300 deaths, 950 homes were destroyed, and approximately 2,000 inhabitants were killed. The Church of the Eremitani, which contained frescoes by Andrea Mantegna, was largely destroyed. On the 26th of April 1945 partisans launched the final insurrection, and 5,000 German troops surrendered in the city.