In the footsteps of Copernicus: Padua and Uppsala

For over half a millennium the life and work of the Polish astronomer and mathematician Nicolaus Copernicus has been described and discussed in countless publications. And yet there are some aspects of his life, as well as the whereabouts of his remains that are relatively unknown to the general public. One of the less explored episodes is the period Copernicus spent at Padua University in Italy. Another that deserves more recognition is the recent detective story, involving work at the University of Uppsala in Sweden to identify his genetic material, permitting the definitive location of his grave. In this article we intend to shed light on these less familiar facts about Copernicus, hoping that the reader will be enticed to visit those two amazing historical cities: Padua and Uppsala.