Museo Giovanni Poleni
University of Padua museum of scientific instruments from the Renaissance to modern physics, starting from Giovanni Poleni's physics cabinet.
Have only individual sections read aloud
About the museum
The museum originates in the Physics Cabinet that Giovanni Poleni, the first professor of experimental physics in Padua, enriched from 1739 with instruments for his research and his spectacular lectures. Over the centuries the collection grew through the work of the professors who succeeded one another in the chair of experimental physics, tracing the development of the discipline from the 18th century to the present day.
It is housed in the teaching complex of the Department of Physics “Galileo Galilei”, in via Loredan. The route is chronological: instruments from the 16th and 17th centuries, Poleni's cabinet with demonstrations inspired by Newton, 19th-century instrumentation, modern physics with studies on radioactivity and cosmic rays by Bruno Rossi, and a “living” section with the instruments of today's physics.
Among the objects are an optical camera similar to the one used by Canaletto, an extremely rare 18th-century pressure cooker, optical games and models of machines linked to the history of the Republic of Venice.
Highlights
- Physics Cabinet of Giovanni Poleni
- Optical camera similar to Canaletto's
- 18th-century pressure cooker
- 19th-century instruments and optics section
- Studies on cosmic rays by Bruno Rossi
- Instruments of contemporary physics
Permanent exhibition
- Collezione di strumenti di fisica – Chronological route from 16th-century instruments to Poleni's cabinet, 19th-century instrumentation and modern physics.
- Founded
- 1739
- Operated by
- Università degli Studi di Padova
Admission & discounts
| Adults | €3 |
|---|---|
| Children & teens | freefree up to age 12 · Free up to age 12. |
| Visitors with disabilities | freecompanion free · Free for people with disabilities and one companion. |
| Students & apprentices | freeFree for students and staff of the University of Padua with badge. |
| Groups | –Guided tours and workshops for groups of up to 15 people: €50 per group. |
| Families | €62 adults and up to 3 children aged up to 17. |
| Guided tour or workshop per group (max 15 people) | €50Duration 1 hour, by booking. |
Free admission also for members and honorary members of ICOM and ANMS, of the Associazione degli Amici dell'Università di Padova, and for journalists and guides with a press card. Tickets can only be bought online on the website of the university museums.
Accessibility
- Partially wheelchair accessible
- Elevator: no information
- Accessible restroom
- Accessible parking: no information
- Service dogs welcome: no information
- Tactile models & exhibits: no information
- Sign language tours: no information
- Easy-to-read materials: no information
- Audio description: no information
To reach the optics section you need to climb three steps; on request a device for lifting wheelchairs is available. There is seating along the route, toilets fitted for people with disabilities and a free audio guide in Italian and English. Bilingual Italian–English panels, captions also in Arabic and Albanian, and videos and audio in Arabic, Albanian, French, Spanish and English via QR code; an AAC guide is in preparation.
Kids & families
Great for kids & families
| Kids’ admission | free up to age 12 |
|---|---|
| Family ticket | €6 · 2 adults and up to 3 children aged up to 17. |
- Family tours & workshops
Family activity “Strumenti ed esperimenti” (instruments and experiments), an interactive route with small experiments; family ticket for €6.
Getting there & parking
By public transit
Eremitani · 700 m
Bus stops: Morgagni (Largo Meneghetti), Via Venezia/Università, Belzoni; tram stops: Eremitani (700 m on foot) and Ponti Romani (900 m). The railway station is about 17 minutes on foot.
By car
Parking available
Recommended parking: Padova Centro Park, next to the former Piazzale Boschetti (Via Trieste 50, 35121 Padova).
On foot from Porta Portello 8 minutes, from the Piazze 15 minutes.
Get directionsAmenities & dining
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Events & venue rental
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Plan your visit
| Guided tours | yes · approx. 60 min |
|---|---|
| Audio guide | yes (IT, EN) |
| School programs | yes |
| Good to know | All guided tours and workshops require booking (+39 049 827 3939 or prenotazioni.musei@unipd.it, daily 9:00–17:00). Thematic routes on Poleni, light and colour, science and society, and modern physics; a workshop on the astrolabe; the family activity “Strumenti ed esperimenti” (instruments and experiments). |
