What do Jan Zamoyski, Nicolaus Copernicus and Jan Kochanowski have in common? The answer seems seemingly obvious. Apart from the obvious fact that they all went down in Polish culture for centuries, they all graduated from the same university, the University of Padua, which is no longer a well-known fact. "Travelling to other people's countries" was an almost mass phenomenon among the youth of the magnates and nobility. Regardless of the fact that it is difficult to estimate the actual scale of these expeditions, they had an unquestionable impact on the history of Polish culture.

The University of Padua, like other universities in Italy, was - at the dawn of modernity - one of the most popular among European students. Young people from various countries met there. They were united by their intention to study civil and canon law or the arts, including medicine.

Polish-Lithuanian students were one of the most numerous and significant groups in Padua, who left behind a remarkable memento - a unique heraldic ensemble.

The publication is a continuation of the jubilee publication entitled Album Polonicum 1592-1745. Metrics of the Polish nation in Padua" (2018) related to the 800th anniversary of the Italian university. The book presents, on the one hand, the heraldic ensemble housed in the Palazzo del Bo and, on the other, recounts the history of the university and introduces the customs and rules of placing coats of arms on the university walls. It is a rich and intriguing story related not only to the process of expanding the catalogue of significant figures for the university (initially only the rectors were honoured in this way), but also to the changes in the coat of arms.

We invite you to read and enjoy the rich illustrative material.

An excerpt from the publication is also available on the Histmag.org.pl portal.

Author: Olga Kucharczyk
Introduction: Mirosław Lenart
Essay: Franco Benucci

Editors: Dr Małgorzata Jesiotr, Łucja Oś

Translation: Małgorzata Stolarska (Italian), Anna J. Gołąbek-Asikainen (English), Dr Małgorzata Jesiotr (Latin)

Year of publication: 2023

Number of pages: 530

Binding: hardback

Format: 197x295 cm

ISBN: 978-73-66172-60-9