INAF Museum of the Astronomical Observatory of Padua - La Specola Museum

The ancient Torlonga of the Carrarese Castle, later called Torre della Specola, from a defense observatory of the city to an Astronomical Observatory.

The Observatory of Padua is the seat of the ancient astronomical observatory of the University of Padua: it is located on Torlonga, the larger of the two towers of the ancient Castle of Padua. It is 49.59 m high (53.30 m with the lightning rod antenna) for 252 steps (data from the north section of the Specola tower executed by Giovanni Silva in 1911.

Torlonga was an ancient medieval defense tower built in the 9th century AD. It was rearranged by Ezzelino III da Romano in the 13th century and is linked to the latter's reputation for cruelty: it was in fact a prison and torture room for the enemies of the tyrant, who fell and the castle was abandoned.

In 1994 the Padua Observatory, legally autonomous since 1923, submitted an application to the Ministry of Finance in order to acquire a new building, the so-called Casa del Munizioniere del Castelvecchio, which had become the prison infirmary under Austrian rule.

In the same year the board of directors approved the establishment of the museum section of the Observatory, with the name of "La Specola Museum". The acquisition of the new spaces, which took place a few years later, then allowed the Observatory to expand the museum itinerary and to use the entire tower as a museum.

Since 1994, therefore, the La Specola Museum has preserved, restored and exhibited the observation instruments used by Paduan astronomers during the 250 years of their history.

Map: INAF Museum of the Astronomical Observatory of Padua - La Specola Museum

vCard Info:

Address: Vicolo dell'Osservatorio, 5, 35122
Padova (PD) Veneto
Latitude: 45.40192280922822
Longitude: 11.868560314178467
Site: http://www.beniculturali.inaf....

vCard created by: CHO.earth
Currently owned by: CHO.earth

Type: Building
Function: Museum
Creation date: 17-11-2019 16:56
Last update: 07/07/2022