Anatomical Theatre of Padua

The Anatomical Theatre of Padua is a remarkable piece of medical history located within the University of Padua's Palazzo Bo. Built in 1594, it is one of the oldest surviving anatomical theaters in the world. The theater is a wooden, elliptical structure with tiered seating that rises steeply around a central dissection table. Visitors can stand at the top and look down into the pit where professors once performed public dissections on human cadavers. The experience is both awe-inspiring and sobering, as you imagine the crowded room of students straining to see the intricate workings of the human body. What makes this site distinctive is its intimate scale and the sense of stepping back into the Renaissance era of scientific discovery. The theater is part of a guided tour of Palazzo Bo, which also includes the historic university halls and the Rector's office. You'll see original instruments and learn about the pioneering work of anatomists like Andreas Vesalius and William Harvey, who studied here.

Don't miss

• The original wooden tiered seating and dissection table
• The intricate carvings and the coat of arms on the ceiling
• Guided tour explaining the history of anatomy at Padua
• Viewing the adjacent Great Hall with its frescoes
• The statue of the anatomist Giovanni Battista Morgagni

Tickets & tours

Ways to visit Anatomical Theatre of Padua

Cheapest way inPadova Walking Tour with Audio and Written Guide by a Local4.8★ · 80 travelers3–4 hoursFree cancellationFrom$8 per personSee dates →Most bookedPrivate Tour of Padua with Scrovegni Chapel4.7★ · 98 travelers~2 hoursFrom$168 per personSee dates →Private & flexibleExclusive Padua Tour: Scrovegni Chapel, Basilica & Highlights5★ · 17 travelers~4 hoursFree cancellationFrom$369 per personSee dates →