Loggia and Odeo Cornaro

The Loggia and Odeo Cornaro are two Renaissance buildings in Padua, located in the eastern part of the historical center of the city, not far from the Basilica of Saint Anthony of Padua.

The structures were part of a larger complex of buildings and gardens built by Alvise Cornaro in the first half of the 16th century, in the vast park of his residence.

Of the original complex, only a rectangular courtyard of about 32 by 18 meters remains. The Loggia occupies the entire short side, while the Odeo stands in the center of the long side.

SHORT HISTORY OF THE LOGGIA AND ODEO CORNARO

The Loggia was desired by Alvise Cornaro as a physical expression of the idea of a humanist theater.

The structure, designed by the architect and painter Giovanni Maria Falconetto from Verona, was built starting with 1524.

The Odeo was built ten years after the Loggia, and it was the space intended for music and poetic recitations.

Starting with 1540, the Odeo became the seat of the Academy of the Burning Ones (Accademia degli Infiammati), a philosophical and literary academy in Padua.

Loggia and Odeo Cornaro

ART AND ARCHITECTURE OF THE LOGGIA AND ODEO CORNARO

The Loggia is a structure with a rectangular plan developed on two orders.

The limit between the two orders is easily identifiable, due to the presence of an entablature and an evident chromatic difference due to the different material used for the construction.

The lower order of the Loggia is marked by five round arches with composite pillars characterized by Tuscan semi-columns, on which rests an entablature with a Doric frieze of metopes and triglyphs.

The central arch, decorated with winged Victories, has a protruding architrave. The keystones of the arches are decorated with masks inspired by the classical theater.

On the long side of the building, in correspondence with the five arches of the facade, there are four arched windows and a central door with a triangular pediment.

The ceiling of the ground floor is characterized by a single vault decorated by three frescoed coffers and surrounded by a series of stuccos and paintings with a mythological theme within geometric frames.

The upper part of the facade is marked by five windows – three blind windows with triangular tympanum alternating with two with arched tympanum. The blind ones house the statues of Diana, Venus and Apollo.

The Odeo, built also by Giovanni Maria Falconetto, has a facade divided into two orders.

The lower order has Doric pilasters, two blind tympanum windows where two reliefs are inserted, an entrance arch with two Victories in the spandrels and a light entablature with a few triglyphs.

The two aedicules on either side of the entrance house two figures – on the left, a winged male figure with a thunderbolt in his hand, a snake around his body and three animal heads on his chest, and on the right, a female figure, also with a snake around her body, trampling on three heads.

In the upper order, there is a loggia with three openings, in clear contrast with the level below, which looks like a solid wall.

At the same level, there are pilasters with Ionic capitals, masks in the keystones of the arches, and a frame decorated with lions, fauns and oxen heads.

HOW TO GET TO LOGGIA AND ODEO CORNARO

The Loggia and Odeo Cornaro are located about 1.9 kilometers on foot from the Padua railway station.

The closest bus stop is in Via Michele Sanmicheli 1, located about 350 meters away, on the bus Lines U11, U13, U16, U24 and U43.

The closest tram stop is Santo, located about 550 meters away on the Riviera Businello, on the tram Line SIR1.