The Giovanni Poleni Museum tells the story of physics between Padua and the world through a unique collection that began in 1739 with the Physics Cabinet founded by Giovanni Poleni, among the most famous in Europe at the time. The museum’s scientific instruments span centuries of innovation, from the Renaissance era to the 20th century, reflecting developments in physics research and teaching at the University of Padua and beyond.

This journey between past and present reveals the links between the University’s physicists and the national and international scientific community, exploring the connections between science, art, architecture, music, and psychology. Through the stories of objects, marked by both successes and failures, the museum offers a glimpse into the complex relationship between science and society from the Renaissance to the present day.