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Interactive museum in Padua dedicated to the history of medicine, in the former San Francesco Grande hospital, with a route over three floors and multimedia stations.
November 1, 2026 – March 31, 2027
The exhibition traces the evolution of reconstructive surgery, from the earliest techniques to today's regenerative technologies. Four sections – history, form, function and identity – show how the body is rebuilt and how one's perception of oneself changes.
MUSME occupies part of the former San Francesco Grande Hospital, next to the church of the same name, in the centre of Padua. The hospital was founded in 1414 and remained in operation until 1798, for four centuries the city’s main hospital. The idea for the museum dates back to 2000; the complex, owned by the Provincia di Padova since 1959, was restored by the Università di Padova, and the museum opened on 5 June 2015.
The museum is run by the Fondazione MUSME, founded in 2008 on the initiative of several local institutions, which since 2013 has entrusted day-to-day management to the company Palazzo della Salute. The route runs over several floors and combines traditional displays with interactive stations: virtual anatomy tables, projected antique books, games and videos. The rooms are guided by historical figures such as Sibilla de Cetto, Galileo Galilei, Andrea Vesalio, Santorio Santorio, Giovanni Battista Morgagni and Prospero Alpini, who lead visitors from the hospital to anatomy, from physiology to pathology and therapy.
The historical objects come from the University, the municipal museums and the health institutions of the area. A large double-height anatomical theatre houses an interactive model of the human body about eight metres tall; the route ends with two rooms for temporary exhibitions. The museum also offers a sensory guide for a touch tour, an audio guide and numerous activities for families and schools.
| Adults | €12 |
|---|---|
| Reduced | €8Over 65s, teachers with a self-certification and residents of the province of Padua (promotion until 31 May 2026) |
| Children & teens | €6free up to age 3 · €6 for ages 4–17. |
| Seniors | €8Over 65s with ID. |
| Visitors with disabilities | freecompanion free · Free admission for people with disabilities (law 104 or 100% civil disability) with one companion. |
| Students & apprentices | €6Students up to 26 with a university card. |
| Groups (10+ people) | €10 per personGroups of 10 to 30 people. |
| Families | €261–2 adults with 1–3 children up to 12; other members pay the appropriate rate. |
| Guided tour in Italian (1 hour, up to 30 people, Monday to Friday) | €60Tickets excluded; Saturday, Sunday and public holidays €75. |
| Guided tour in English or another language (1 hour, Monday to Friday) | €90Tickets excluded; Saturday, Sunday and public holidays €100. |
| Audio guide “Padova, i percorsi della scienza” | €4For smartphones, in Italian, English and Spanish. |
| Children’s mini guide “Alla scoperta del MUSME!” | €4For primary schools, Italian only, with a pencil. |
| MUSME Lovers (unlimited access for 365 days) | €36Adult €36; senior €25; student €20; family €55. |
Free admission: Free admission on your birthday (with ID)
Free admission also for tour guides registered on the official register and for journalists registered with the Order of Journalists. Partner ticket €10 at the ticket office with a valid membership card (for example FAI, Touring Club Italiano, Slow Food, Museo Diocesano di Padova). Tickets can be bought online. Prices on the summary page and the detail page do not match at every point; the prices from the detail page are reported here.
Lifts connect all floors; the ticket office and the cloister are wheelchair accessible. Sensory stations: touch (room C, second floor), hearing (room E) and smell (room F, third floor). Videos have English subtitles; Braille texts are not available. The guide “Il MUSME sensoriale” can be downloaded for a touch tour. Small dogs on a lead are admitted at the discretion of staff.
Great for kids & families
| Kids’ admission | free up to age 3 |
|---|---|
| Family ticket | €26 · 1–2 adults with 1–3 children up to 12; other members pay the appropriate rate. |
Children’s mini guide, videos featuring Andrea Vesalio in the rooms, EsperiMUSME workshops on Saturday afternoons, “Delitto al museo” murder-mystery evenings, birthday parties, summer camps and holiday activities. Accessible for pushchairs.
Ponti Romani
Tram SIR1 and buses A, T, AT, 2, 3, 5, 8, 11, 12, 13, 14, 16 and 22, stop “Ponti Romani”
Paid parking · 900 m to the entrance
Recommended car parks: Interparking in via Trieste 50 (556 spaces, about 900 m away) and piazza Isaac Rabin at Prato della Valle (437 spaces, about 1.4 km away). Bicycles can be left in the museum courtyard.
The museum is in Padua’s pedestrian centre. From the A4, take the Padova Ovest or Padova Est exit; from the A13, take the Padova Sud exit.
Get directionsThere is no bar. The cloakroom is not supervised. The MUSME Shop bookshop is at the ticket office; the inner courtyard has seating. Food and drink are not allowed in the rooms.
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
| Guided tours | yes · approx. 60 min |
|---|---|
| Audio guide | yes (IT, EN, ES) |
| School programs | yes |
| Photography | Photography and video recording are allowed in the museum. |
| Good to know | Guided tours for groups (up to 30 people) and animated visits are available by appointment, by writing to info@musme.it; for schools, scuole@musme.it. The first floor is reserved for storage. At weekends, in the morning and early afternoon, the museum can be more crowded. |
