The past for the future of geography: introducing the Padua Museum of Geography

The contribution presents the history, the collections and the vision of the future museum of geography at the University of Padova. As cradle of Italian geography (since 1872 when the first chair of geography was established), Padova has distinguished itself on the national scene for the long tradition of studies and projects combining physical and humanist approaches. In almost 150 years, the institute of geography has collected a wide number of historical documents, maps, globes, terrain models, wall charts, measuring instruments and photographic documentation. Nevertheless, this remarkable amount of material items is only a part of the wider intangible heritage of methods, skills, and ways of thinking that the museum of geography aims to highlight and promote.