The Palazzo Grassi in Chioggia granted to Unipd for 18 years

Signed today was the deed by which the Comune di Chioggia grants Palazzo Grassi under concession to the University of Padua for a period of eighteen years, one month and ten days.

Palazzo Grassi, located in fondamenta Canal Vena 1282 in Chioggia, in addition to the Museo “G. Olivi”, currently houses some University facilities, including the Department of Biology and the Department of Comparative Biomedicine and Food Science.  However, the Chioggia site also brings together many other Unipd departments, involving around forty lecturers and researchers. Research activities are carried out there covering all areas of modern biology, ranging from molecular biology to ecophysiology and ethology, and extending to the management of resources (fisheries and aquaculture) and marine-coastal ecosystems. The research conducted there is both theoretical and applied to the development of the blue economy, the mitigation of human pressures and adaptation to climate change in coastal areas.

Palazzo Grassi is also home to the Master's Degree in Marine Biology of the University of Padua, since its establishment in 2006. This degree programme trains experts in the conservation and management of marine biodiversity and in aquaculture, with opportunities in environmental bodies, laboratories, breeding facilities, consultancy and research. Over time, the number of students has grown to 80 over the two-year programme. Since 2021 the course has been international, teaching has been in English and on average 40 per cent of the student body comes from foreign countries.

In view of the long concession period, the University intends to undertake restoration, enhancement and extraordinary maintenance works at Palazzo Grassi, planning a series of works consisting mainly of the refurbishment of the air-conditioning and heating systems, flooring, etc., with a total financial commitment of approximately 3,320,000 euros.

The Mayor of Chioggia, Mauro Armelao: «The signing of this agreement represents an important step for the future of Palazzo Grassi and for the relationship between Chioggia and the University of Padua. After a long and complex process, we have reached an agreement that provides certainty and a long-term perspective for one of the most significant places in our city, consolidating the presence of the University and the Department of Biology in our area. For Chioggia, this means above all continuing to build an ever closer relationship between the local area, education and research. The presence of the University of Padua represents an opportunity for our young people, for the city’s cultural growth and for its ability to attract students, researchers and new expertise.
However, this agreement must also be a starting point. We want to work together with the University to progressively expand the academic programmes available in Chioggia, going beyond the programmes already active in Marine Biology and Nursing and working to create the conditions needed to bring other degree programmes to the city as well. At the same time, it will be important to collaborate in identifying and making available new spaces to be used for student accommodation, because increasing the academic programmes also means creating the conditions that enable students to live and study in Chioggia».

The Rector of the University of Padua, Daniela Mapelli: «This agreement strengthens a bond between the University of Padua and Chioggia that has deep roots and to which we want to give an even longer-term perspective ––. Palazzo Grassi is now a place where teaching, research and the relationship with the local area coexist: from international education in Marine Biology to studies on marine-coastal ecosystems, and including the activities of the Museo “G. Olivi”. The investment that the University will make to restore and enhance this building demonstrates a clear choice: to continue investing in Chioggia, in the quality of our presence and in a collaboration with the city capable of generating knowledge, education and value for the local area».

Among other things, the concession deed states: «The concessionaire undertakes [...] to manage the Museo G. Olivi, both in terms of ticket office organisation and visits as well as the curation of the assets kept there, collecting the proceeds from the sale of museum admission tickets, with the ticket price to be agreed with the municipal administration; to ensure, compatibly with the University’s teaching, research and third mission activities, the use of the spaces required for exhibitions and events to be held in the inner courtyard of Palazzo Grassi during daytime or night-time hours, which the Comune assumes as its own and in respect of which the Comune will ensure, through the entrusted body or partner, the restoration of the premises, their supervision and responsibility for the safety plan, as well as no. 20 annual uses of the aula magna, ensuring opening/closing staff for the premises only during the ordinary concierge service hours.»