Civic museum complex · Medieval–modern · Padua

Eremitani Civic Museums — Civic Museums of Padua

The Civic Museums of Padua (Musei Civici agli Eremitani) are housed in a former Augustinian monastery adjacent to the Eremitani church in the historic centre of Padua. The complex brings together the Archaeological and Medieval Museum, the Museum of the Risorgimento and the Twentieth Century, the Bottacin Museum of coins and medals, and an art gallery with works spanning from the pre-Roman era to the twentieth century. The adjacent Scrovegni Chapel, one of the supreme masterpieces of Western art, is also accessed via the museum complex.

At a glance

Type: Civic museum complex — archaeology, medieval, fine arts, numismatics
Period: Convent founded 13th century; museum established 19th century
Style: Gothic convent architecture; 19th-century museum installation
Location: Piazza Eremitani 8, Padua, Veneto, Italy
Coordinates: 45.4088° N, 11.8761° E

Overview

The Musei Civici agli Eremitani constitute Padua’s principal civic museum institution, occupying the cloisters of a former Augustinian hermit convent dating from the thirteenth century. The complex encompasses four distinct collections — archaeological, medieval and modern art, Risorgimento history, and the internationally significant Bottacin coin and medal collection — making it one of the most comprehensive civic cultural institutions in the Veneto region. It also serves as the ticket gateway to the Scrovegni Chapel, home to Giotto’s celebrated fresco cycle of 1303–1305.

History

The Augustinian hermit convent of Sant’Agostino was established in Padua in the mid-thirteenth century on land granted by the commune. The adjoining Eremitani church, begun around 1276, became one of the city’s most important Gothic religious buildings. After the suppression of religious orders under Napoleon, the convent buildings were adapted for civic use and the municipality began assembling collections that had been dispersed from churches and private owners. The civic museum formally opened during the nineteenth century and has grown through successive acquisitions and bequests.

What you see

Visitors move through the medieval cloister into galleries presenting pre-Roman and Roman artefacts from the Veneto, medieval and Renaissance paintings and sculpture, and a numismatic collection of over 50,000 coins and medals assembled by Nicola Bottacin. The art gallery holds significant works by Guariento, Giorgione, Tintoretto, and Tiepolo, among others. The Scrovegni Chapel — visited on a timed-entry system — contains Giotto’s complete fresco cycle depicting the life of the Virgin and Christ, considered a foundational monument of European painting.

Cultural significance

The Eremitani complex is of outstanding importance both for the quality of its permanent collections and for its proximity to the Scrovegni Chapel, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the most significant works of art in Italy. The Bottacin numismatic collection ranks among the finest in Europe. Together these resources make Padua’s civic museums a key destination for scholars and visitors interested in medieval and Renaissance Italian civilisation.

Practical information

Address: Piazza Eremitani 8, 35121 Padova PD
Hours: Tuesday–Sunday, typically 09:00–19:00; check official website for seasonal variations
Admission: Combined ticket includes civic museums; Scrovegni Chapel requires advance booking
Website: padovamusei.it

Getting there

The museums are in central Padua, a short walk from the main railway station (Padova Centrale, served by high-speed and regional trains from Venice, Bologna, and Milan). Several bus lines stop at Piazza Eremitani. Padua is approximately 30 minutes by train from Venice Santa Lucia and about one hour from Verona.

Sources & resources

Historical events at this place (1)

2021 Vorticimperfetti performance teatrale ai Musei Eremitani

The Civic Museums of Padua, also known as Eremitani Civic Museums, are a fascinating museum complex located in the suggestive Piazza Eremitani, in the heart of the city of Padua. These museums are a true cultural gem, offering visitors an immersion into the history, art and archeology of the region.

The history of the Musei Civici agli Eremitani dates back to 1883, when the Municipality of Padua decided to bring together various artistic and historical collections within a single museum structure. The building that houses the museums, located next to the church of the Eremitani, dates back to the 13th century and has a suggestive Gothic facade.

Inside the museums, visitors can admire a wide range of artworks and historical artifacts. The permanent collection includes paintings, sculptures, applied art objects and archaeological artefacts, covering a period from antiquity to the contemporary era.

Among the masterpieces on display, the fascinating cycle of frescoes by Andrea Mantegna in the Sala degli Ovetari stands out, representing one of the highlights of Italian Renaissance art. These frescoes depict religious and mythological scenes, showing Mantegna&#39;s artistry.

Another must-see attraction is the archaeological section, which houses a vast collection of artifacts from the Veneto region. Here you can admire Roman, Greek and Egyptian objects, including statues, coins, ceramics and other artifacts that offer a fascinating insight into ancient history.

In addition to the permanent collections, the Musei Civici agli Eremitani regularly host temporary exhibitions covering a wide range of artistic and historical themes. These exhibitions offer a unique opportunity to discover interesting and inspiring works of art and cultural topics.

The Musei Civici agli Eremitani are located in a strategic position, a short distance from other important attractions of Padua, such as the Basilica of Sant&#39;Antonio and the famous Caff&egrave; Pedrocchi. Therefore, visiting the museums is an ideal way to explore the cultural and artistic richness of the city.

In conclusion, the Civic Museums of Padua offer a fascinating journey through the history and art of the region. With their eclectic collections and temporary exhibitions, these museums are a must-see destination for culture and art lovers visiting the city.



The civic museums group the Archaeological Museum and the Museum of Medieval and Modern Art.



Since 1985 it has been housed in the cloisters of the former convent of the eremitani friars, restored according to the project of the architects Franco Albini and Franca Helg.



For some years now the facing Zuckermann palace has also been part of the civic museums, which houses the Museum of Applied Arts and the Bottacin Museum.



The oldest part of the museum is the ancient collection of the Lateran Canons of San Giovanni di Verdara made public in 1784.



The Convent of San Giovanni was suppressed in 1783 and the artistic collections were assigned to the Municipality. After the suppression of religious bodies in the Napoleonic era, the name of the Museum was given in 1825 to the collection of Venetian, Greek and Roman inscriptions that the Abbot Furlanetto had exhibited in the loggias of the Palace of the Reason.



The Scrovegni chapel with the famous fresco cycle by Giotto is annexed to the complex.



Recently, the Museum of the Resurgenceand the contemporary age was set up on the noble floor of the Pedrocchi coffee, in 2012 it was visited by 256,471 people.

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Eremitani Civic Museums – Civic Museums of Padua – Virtual Tour 360°