Specola of Padua

Description

The Specola of Padua is the setting for the astronomical observatory of Padua, a research structure of the INAF – Istituto nazionale di Astrofisica (National institute of Astrophysics). The museum and observatory are located in the Torlonga, a medieval defensive tower built in the 9^th century on the spot where the river Bacchiglione divides into Riviera Paleocapa and Riviera Tiso da Camposampiero.
Previously used as a prison and torture chamber, the tower was abandoned when the Carraresi, lords of Padua, built a new castle. The ancient and very dilapidated fortress was known as “Castel Vecchio” (old castle) and used as a warehouse for grain, straw, hay, weapons and munitions for many years in the 1700s.
In 1761, the Venetian Senate ordered the establishment of an astronomical observatory for the University in Padua. The new specola (observatory), one of the most beautiful in Europe at the time, was visited by many famous people including the German poet and playwright Johann Wolfgang Goethe, who described the wonderful view form the top of the tower in his diary in 1786.
A part of the INAF since 2001, the observatory houses a museum route displaying the instruments used in the 1700 and 1800s which extends through the tower and across the four historical halls dedicated to astronomy: the Iscrizione, Colonna, Meridiana and Figure rooms.

Position on map