La Specola astronomical observatory in Padua

The 14th-century tower was once part of a medieval castle in Padua, Italy. It was raised further in the 14th century during a reconstruction by Francesco I da Carrara. In 1767, the tower was converted into an astronomical observatory.

Abbé Toaldo added an inscription to the entrance in 1771, marking its use as an observatory. Today, La Specola museum houses frescoes depicting famous astronomers and a collection of period astronomical instruments.

The University of Padua decided to procure a modern facility, represented by the Asiago Astrophysical Observatory on a plateau north of Padova, commissioned in 1942.

Sources: Wikipedia, OpenStreetMap, Wikidata, Wikimedia Commons