Palazzo Bo and Anatomical Theatre | Università di Padova
Channel: Abre Tu Mente
Date: 09/04/2023

Palazzo Bo and Anatomical Theatre | Università di Padova
https://www.unipd.it/en/palazzo-bo-and-anatomical-theatre

ANATOMY THEATRE
This was built in 1594 for the famous professor of anatomy Gerolamo Fabrici d’Acquapendente; it is said that the design was based on suggestions from Fra Paolo Sarpi. The earliest permanent anatomy theatre in the world – up to then, temporary structures were erected for those attending autopsies – this is also the oldest still extant. The wooden structure has the form of an inverted cone with an elliptical ground plan; it comprises six concentric ranks of seats that rise around the anatomy table. The banisters and balustrades are in carved walnut. Originally, the windows were blank panels, with the lighting for anatomy lessons being provided by torches; they were only opened up as windows proper in 1844, the final year of modifications which had begun in 1842. The theatre was last used for teaching purposes in 1872 and was restored in 1991-92. In the small room alongside – once used in preparing the bodies for dissection – there is a small exhibition illustrating its history.