The bust on display in this room is of Antonio Vallisnèri, professor of practical and theoretical medicine in Padua from 1700 to 1730, whose nature collection was displayed here for almost a century. His interests ranged from biology to botany, zoology, mineralogy, geology, and his collections constituted the university’s first real natural history museum.

Vallisneri’s scientific insights were inspired by Galileo’s experimental methodology and often pushed him headlong into fiery debate.

On the facing wall, Ferruccio Ferràzzi painted Galileo Galilei and his Discoveries. On the entrance wall, the same artist depicted Dawn. The high reliefs by Luigi Strazzabòsco are portraits of school directors and faculty deans who were active in the early 1940s, when Rector Carlo Anti commissioned the decorative cycle.

The armillary sphere that once adorned the university dome now hangs from the ceiling here.