The first Museum of Geography is born in Padua. It is part of the museums of the University

It took almost eight years, but the result was finally achieved: the first museum entirely dedicated to geography in Italy was born in Padua on July 9, and it will be open to visitors starting in December. The Museum of Geography (this is the official name of the new institute) is one of the museums of the University of Padua, and its birth was sanctioned by the Academic Senate of the University of Padua, which with this measure wanted to open to the public the geography collection of the Department of Historical, Geographical and Ancient Sciences (DiSSGeA). The new museum will be located on the main floor of Palazzo Wollemborg, on Via del Santo, right in the center of the city: currently the building already houses the Geography section of DiSSGeA. The museum is currently being set up. The scientific head of the museum will be Professor Mauro Varotto.

“The idea of creating a Museum of Geography at the University of Padua,” reads the official presentation, “was born to enhance and keep united the heritage accumulated in more than 140 years of geographical research and teaching since the first Italian chair of Geography in 1872. First shared at the last Geography Department Council meeting on Dec. 11, 2011, the intuition became a project thanks to the commitment of the Geography Section and the entire DiSSGeA.”

The goal of the museum is to “revitalize the relationship between the University and civil society through a dynamic museum idea that starting from the enhancement of heritage leads to the approach of a geography made up of engaging practices and research themes of stringent topicality.” To succeed, the public will have the opportunity to observe one of Italy’s most important geographical collections: maps, atlases (there are 70 historical atlases including the 1724 edition of Abraham Ortelius’ Theatrum Orbis Terrarum ), globes, globes (including three celestial globes from the 17th century), models (28 pieces, the oldest of which dates back to 1889), measuring instruments, documents (dating from 1888 onward) and photographs. Everything will then be made usable in interactive form as well. There will be thematic sections devoted to major explorations, technology, climate, and historical maps, and the importance of geography to contemporary society will not be forgotten.

The date is set for December 3, when the Museum of Geography will be officially opened at Palazzo del Bo, the headquarters of the University of Padua. From then on, it will open its doors to the public, although only twice a week: on Friday afternoons and Saturday mornings. Of course, educational workshops are planned for schools and beyond. Anyone who would like more information about the new museum can already visit its website.

The first Museum of Geography is born in Padua. It is part of the museums of the University

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