Welcome to Palazzo del Bo, Padua University’s main site since the early 1500s. Or perhaps visitors already know that?

What many don’t know is that in the Middle Ages the part of the building now known as Palazzo del Bo, was a luxury hotel, the Hospitium Bòvis. The hotel belonged to a butcher, one Marcolino Bonanzìni, who had been given the building by local lords to thank him for providing meat during the Venetian siege of Padua.

The hotel’s coat of arms was a “bucrànio”, an ox skull, decorated with garlands. It incorporated the name and profession of its owner, but also the street where it was located, Via delle Beccherie, namely the street of butcher shops.

This coat of arms is now the symbol of the University of Padua.

Visitors can discover more fascinating information like this if they scan the QR codes posted around Palazzo del Bo and Palazzo Liviano.

The university still uses both buildings so not all areas are accessible at all times, but this tour is designed to offer a full experience of the architecture and interiors of the two palazzos.

This was precisely the aim of the most complete renovation ever put in place for Palazzo del Bo, from 1938 to 1942. The rector at the time was Carlo Anti, an archaeologist and art historian, and while he intended to respect and preserve the dignity of the centuries-old complex, he didn’t want it to become a lifeless site.

Ettore Fagiuoli was tasked with the renovation and Gio Ponti with the decorative project. Fagiuoli was to develop an overall harmonization of the buildings acquired for the Bo complex over the centuries. Ponti focused on the theme of “Patavìna Libèrtas”. Freedom of thought, the central notion that has distinguished Padua University since it was born in 1222, and which will accompany visitors on this tour.