The Conference Dinner will be held on Thursday evening, 21 May 2026 at Padua’s oldest and most famous historical café, Caffé Pedrocchi, a cultural and architectural icon in Padua.
A unique Philosophy: The “Open Coffee”
Among Italy’s oldest cafés still in operation, Caffè Pedrocchi was founded in Padua in 1831 by Antonio Pedrocchi, who envisioned “the most beautiful café on Earth.” It soon became a lively meeting place open to all — a true example of the Italian “open coffee” spirit. Its Red, White, and Green rooms hosted intellectual debate and student life, earning it the name “café without doors” for being open day and night.
Jappelli and the Architectural Vision
Pedrocchi entrusted the project to Venetian architect Giuseppe Jappelli, who between 1826 and 1842 transformed existing buildings into an elegant neoclassical landmark. The irregular plan generated varied façades and interiors. While the ground floor houses the historic coffee rooms, the upstairs Piano Nobile presents richly decorated salons in different historical styles.
Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0.
Cultural Legacy
The café’s reputation spread quickly. The French writer Stendhal praised it, calling Pedrocchi “the best in Italy.” In 1848, the café became a symbolic site of student uprisings linked to the Italian independence movement. Today it remains one of Padua’s cultural icons — a place where coffee and history meet.