What is MUSME?

MUSME, inaugurated on June 5th, 2015, is already considered an Italian excellence.

It is a new generation Museum that narrates, with a rigorous yet engaging language, the extraordinary journey of Medicine – from ancient discipline to modern science – with a keen eye on the history of Padua’s Medical School.

Balancing the past and the future, MUSME revolutionizes the concept of Scientific Museum, combining History and Technology.

A hybrid between a traditional exhibit collection and a modern Science Centre, it not only merges but also renovates conventional museum approaches. As a result, it captivates every visitor by offering an exhibition that adapts to its audience: from playful storytelling for the younger ones, to in-depth scientific analysis for scholars.

In 2015, MUSME won the prestigious eContent Award Italy for the best content and services in digital format, in the category “eLearning & Science”. Within just a few months, it quickly climbed Tripadvisor’s charts, where it ranks among the top positions in the “Top things to do in Padua”, and the 1st place among Paduan Museums.

The success has been remarkable — particularly with school groups. In fact, hundreds of visiting classes began to spread the word, which significantly increased the visitor flow, month after month.

Our hope is to consolidate this positive trend through the years, also thanks to the constant renewal of exhibitions and educational initiatives.

Children interacting with a touchscreen display

1 2 3 4 5

The Location

Our premises themselves tell the story of the extraordinary innovations of our past.

The Museum is set up in the 15th century building that used to house Padua’s first hospital. Built in 1414 by the spouses Sibilia de’ Cetto and Baldo Bonafari da Piombino: the Hospital of Saint Francis the Greater.

In the second half of the 1500s, it was precisely within these walls that, for the first time in the world, medicine students began learning clinical practice directly at patients’ bedsides. This groundbreaking approach laid the foundations for what would become the modern academic model of medical education.

The Hospital of Saint Francis remained operational for nearly four centuries, until March 29th, 1798, when it was replaced by a new hospital — the Giustinianeo Hospital — as requested by Nicolò Giustiniani, then Bishop of Padua.

Exhibition Itinerary

Virtual Doors

Media Gallery

What is MUSME?

The Location

Orari | Opening Hours