The official start of our University’s 800th Anniversary
28.09.2021
Thursday, September 30 and Friday, October 1, are the official celebratory beginnings of the University of Padua’s 800th anniversary with the rectors of some of Europe’s oldest universities as welcomed guests to the inauguration of the Rector Daniela Mapelli, and an evening of verse and music inspired by freedom.
Celebrating culture, knowledge, and freedom begins on Thursday, September 30, and continues until March of 2023. A rich programme of events in celebration of the 800th Anniversary of the University of Padua with exhibitions, shows, meetings, editorial publications and the inaugurations of new museums.
Kickstarting with a two-day event at Palazzo Bo on Thursday, September 30, at 4 pm as we welcome the rectors of some of Europe’s oldest and most important universities.
This followed by an evening of verse and music at Padua’s Teatro Verdi entitled “Libertas. A common destiny keeps us here. Either all of us or none of us, preceded by a reading by poet Mariangela Gualtieri, as well as remarks by outgoing Rector Rosario Rizzuto and Rector-elect Daniela Mapelli. The event will be streamed live on the University’s social media channels.
The Aula Magna of Palazzo Bo hosts the official handover ceremony of the rectorate office from outgoing Rector Rosario Rizzuto to Rector-elect Daniela Mapelli on Friday, October 1 at 10 am. The event includes institutional greetings by Vice-President of the Veneto Region Elisa De Berti, Mayor of Padua Sergio Giordani, and the Prefect of Padua Raffaele Grassi, followed by the speech by the outgoing rector, speeches by guest rectors and the first speech by the new rector. As the Official Start of the University’s 800th Anniversary, the entire ceremony will be streamed live on the University’s social media channels. The ceremony will be streamed on Unipd YouTube and will end with the declaration of the official opening of the 800th Anniversary Celebration.
With her inauguration, Daniela Mapelli will be the first female Rector in the history of the University of Padua, the same university where Elena Lucrezia Cornaro Piscopia became the first woman to receive a PhD as she was awarded a Doctor of Philosophy by the University of Padua in 1678.
