The Hall of Graduates is one of the University’s most exquisite rooms, by virtue of both its decorations and the book collection it stores.

It is located on the main floor of the Palazzo Murena building, currently hosting the Rector's Office, which owes its name to Architect Carlo Murena (Rieti, 1713-1764), who supervised its design and construction, beginning in 1740.

A smaller vestibule introduces visitors to the main room.

The Hall of Graduates owes its name to its former function, that of hosting the discussion of final thesis. This is made evident by the decor, that includes a wooden U-shaped table placed at the center of the room.

Both the vestibule and the main hall are covered in frescoes painted by two Perugian artists: Giovanni Bevilacqua (eighteenth century), who was in charge of the more decorative parts, and Vincenzo Monotti (Perugia 1734-1792) author of the figures.

With regard to the decoration in the vestibule, the portraits of four of the most illustrious abbots of the Olivetan Order in Perugia can be seen within the rib vaults, framed by painted ovals: from left to right, Egidio Titi, Secondo Lancillotti, Placido Carosio and Agostino Lancillotti.

At the center of the ceiling, there are two cherubs holding respectively an armillary sphere and a globe with a world map. The doorframes, as well as the tympanums overlooking them, were decorated to look like marble.

The ceiling of the main room, as already mentioned, is also covered with frescos: at the center the representation of Christian wisdom, surrounded by cherubs bearing the emblems of the three theological virtues (Faith, Hope and Charity) the dove, symbol of the Holy Spirit and the balance, symbol of Justice; painted ovals at each of the four corners show the symbol of the four evangelists (the bull for St. Luke, the Lion for St. Mark, the man for St. Matteo and the eagle for St. John, respectively).

Between the windows (those on the northeast side are painted, with a trompe-l'oeil technique), the towering figures of the four Doctors of the Church: St. Augustine, St. Ambrose, St. Jerome and St. Gregorius Magnus.

Overall, the decoration of the complex looks very balanced to the eye, both in the chromatic scale and the choice of decorative elements: it highlights the architectural clarity of the plan as well as the compositional austerity, well suiting a library of a monastery of the Olivetan Order (as previously mentioned, the building was originally a Monastery of Olivetan Monks. The emblem of the order, the three mountains topped by olive branches, recurs several times in the decorations of the room).

The walls of both rooms are completely covered with wooden bookshelves, painted in tempera and hosting the books of the Ancient Fund collection of the University of Perugia.

The Hall of Graduates underwent a comprehensive restoration that ended in October 2002 and that included both mural decorations and furnishings, adding to the restoration and integration of the original color finish.

(From “The Hall of Graduates” - card no. 01, in “The places of the University: the University's story told through its artistic and architectural heritage”, Perugia, Università degli Studi di Perugia, 2006).