Visiting Padua, it is important to come to the world-famous University of Padua. First of all, it is considered as the oldest university in the world after the Bologna one. Secondly, there, for 25 years, Galileo Galilei himself had the classes. Now his department is still located there, as well as hundreds of years ago. Thirdly, there were studying such famous people as Nicholas Copernicus and the educator from Belarus Francis Skorina. In this University of Padua Skorina successfully passed the exam and became a Doctor of Medical Sciences. The hall, where the defense took place, you can also see today.  

The University of Padua was established by the former professors and students after they left Bologna University because of the conflict with the direction. 

In the university, people could learn civil and canon law, and theology, as well as astronomy, dialectics, philosophy, medicine, and rhetoric. Interestingly, the University of Padua became the first university of Europe where the anatomical theater was opened. In a separate room was all the equipment, which was needed for the medical experiments’ conducting, for example, a table for preparations. It was projected in such a way, that in case of the necessity (if the inquisition came) all the things could be easily hidden. 

In the university, you can also see the portrait of the first graduated woman of the University of Padua. Her name was Elena-Lucretia Cornaro Piskopia. The woman got a Ph.D. in 1678. 

Nowadays, the University of Padua is still one of the most prestigious universities in Europe. The applicants can choose one of the 13 faculties. Now about 65000 students are studying at the university.

The University of Padua has a beautiful botanical garden. It was established in the middle of the 16th century for medical herbs cultivating that was necessary for the Medicine Faculty. In the area of 22000 square meters is presented a huge collection of different plants, including rare species of magnolias and ginkgo.

The tourists can visit the University of Padua for free. But they can enter inside just with an excursion group. And the Botanical Garden visiting is chargeable.