Discover a treasure trove of relics and masterworks in the Eremitani Civic Museums. Situated within the former Monastery of the Hermits, the Eremitani Museums paint a picture of Padova’s rich history. Explore the valuable collection of artifacts in the Archaeological Museum or uncover the city’s legacy of artistic tradition in the Museum of Medieval and Modern Art.
Investigate the monastery’s preserved architecture. The monks were expelled by the Napoleonic suppression of 1806, leaving the sprawling complex to be claimed as a home for the civic museums, which were established in the late 1860s. Private collections and municipal excavations enriched the museum’s collection over the decades. Today the museums represent a unique snapshot of the region in a beautifully restored setting.
Make your way through the Archaeological Museum’s 19 rooms, which chronicle the archaeological and historical development of Padova and its surrounding territory. Treasures collected from old necropolises showcase Ancient Venetian culture during the Iron Age. Funerary items, jewelry, ceramics and votive statues illustrating Etruscan, Italic and Venetian styles are among the highlights of this museum. Check out exquisite marble carvings and mosaics from the Roman era or trace the history of Ancient Egyptian artifacts donated to the museum by private collectors.
Explore the Museum of Medieval and Modern Art. It features the work of Italian masters spanning the 13th to 19th centuries. Highlights from this museum include the convent’s original frescoes painted by Pietro and Giuliano da Rimini and a collection of paintings by Guariento, which were collected from the Chapel of the Reggia Carrarese. Admire an exquisite cross painted by Giotto and use the museum’s multimedia displays to explore the ornate Scrovegni Chapel, decorated in the painter’s frescoes.
The Eremitani Civic Museums are located on Piazza Eremitani in Padova’s historic center and are open daily. Reach the site via the city’s light rail system. Find the monastery building between the 13th-century Church of the Eremitani and the Giardini dell’Arena gardens. There is an admission fee to enter the museums. Combination tickets are available for the Eremitani Civic Museums, the Scrovegni Chapel and the Palazzo Zuckermann.
