The Conservatorio delle Zitelle Gasparine

G. Valle, Pianta di Padova (1784), particolare della sede delle Zitelle in rapporto a Santa Caterina G. Valle, Pianta di Padova (1784), detail of the seat of the Zitelle in relation to Santa Caterina, BCPd, RIP.VII.984

Regolamento generale del Collegio Citelle Gasparini
A destra: Regulations for the good governance of the Zitelle Gasparine of Padova (from Ordini per il buon gouerno delle Citelle Gasparine di Padoua. Fatti dalli signori Gouernatori della casa d'esse citelle, 1663)

In 1598 the Padovan nobleman Francesco Gasparini, together with his wife Giuliana and daughter Virginia, founded by will a place "in the guise of a monastery" for the reception of poor maidens, which was called Zitelle Gasparine, to distinguish it from that of the Zitelle del Vescovo, an institute of similar purpose set up by the Bishop of Padova Marco Cornaro in the same years (Portenari 1623, p. 484).

The building was built in the district of the Pozzo della Vacca (which would later become the district of the Zitelle, after the name of the institution), in the property of Gasparini and a church dedicated to the Holy Trinity was annexed to it, on the façade of which there is a plaque commemorating the founder.

La chiesa della Santissima Trinità e il collegio annesso La chiesa della Santissima Trinità e il collegio annesso The church of the Holy Trinity and the adjoining college

Chiesa Santissima Trinità, targa
SANCTISSIMAE ET INDIVIDUAE TRINITATI FRANCISCUS GASPARENUS PATAVINUS CUM IULIANA UXORE ET VIRGINIA FILIA HANC AEDEM ET DOMUM SERVANDIS VIRGINIBUS SUO AERE TESTAMENTO F.I. EXECUTORES PIORUM ETIAM ELEAEMOSINIS ADIUTI FIERI CURARUNT. ANNO DOMINI M D II C.
IN HONOUR OF THE MOST HOLY AND INDIVISIBLE TRINITY, FRANCESCO GASPARINI FROM PADOVA WITH HIS WIFE GIULIANA AND HIS DAUGHTER VIRGINIA, HAD THIS TEMPLE AND MONASTERY ESTABLISHED FOR THE PROTECTION OF VIRGIN GIRLS WITH HIS WILL. THE PIOUS EXECUTORS ENSURED THAT IT WAS DONE WITH ALMS. YEAR OF THE LORD 1598.


Church of the Holy Trinity, facade: the plaque commemorating the founder


The conservatory remained in conformity with the first institution until 1825, when it was transformed into a boarding school to educate noble girls. At that time its rooms counted three large dormitories, three rooms used as classrooms, rooms for the teachers and administrators of the institute and a refectory, and 30 girls were accommodated there.