Trascrizione
Welcome to Palazzo del Bo, Padua University’s main site since the early 1500s. Though you quite likely already knew that, right?
What many don’t know is that in the Middle Ages part of the building now known as Palazzo del Bo, was a luxury hotel, the Hospitium Bovis.
The hotel belonged to a butcher, one Marcolino Bo...nanzini, who had been given the building by local lords to thank him for providing meat to the citizens of Padua when the venetian army held the city under siege.
The hotel’s coat of arms recalled Marcolino’s name and profession. It was a “bucranio” - an ox skull decorated with garlands.
To these days, this coat of arms remains the symbol of the University of Padua.
Many more fascinating information like this, and some engaging family activity, are awaiting you along the route accessible by scanning the QR codes posted around Palazzo del Bo and Palazzo Liviano.
Please be aware, both buildings are still used nowadays by students and professors.