Bo Palace, Renaissance palace in Padua, Italy
Bo Palace is the main administrative building of the University of Padua, a Renaissance structure with rationalist additions in the heart of the city. The interiors show ornate halls, painted ceilings and wood paneling that run along the corridors and reflect different periods of university history.
The site was documented as an inn in 1364 and later passed to the university, which has been based here since the 15th century. In the 16th century Andrea Moroni led major renovations that gave the complex its current appearance.
The name comes from the ox that marked the inn standing here before the university took over. Today visitors see a mix of frescoes and coats of arms showing academic traditions, while students walk through the halls.
Guided tours must be booked in advance and cover several rooms, including the anatomical theatre and the main hall. The visit lasts about an hour and takes place during university opening hours, when no academic events restrict access.
The oldest surviving permanent anatomical theatre in the world was set up here in 1595 and allowed students to watch dissections up close. The main hall preserves the podium from which Galileo delivered lectures during his teaching years.
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