Archiginnasio & Teatro Anatomico
Museum
Archiginnasio & Teatro Anatomico
Seat of the old university
When Bologna fell to the Papal States in the early 16th century, art and science blossomed. Pope Pius IV ordered the construction of a building that was to hold all university faculties, which at the time had been spread across the entire city, around 1560. Even though the halls of the Archiginnasio are used otherwise nowadays, the spirit of scholars can still be felt. Among other facilities, the lecture halls currently house the city library Biblioteca Comunale with over 600,000 books.
Anatomical Theatre
Teatro Anatomico is located on the first floor of the Archiginnasio. Lectures of the anatomy faculty used to take place here. Renovated true to its original form after damages by war bombs, statues and busts line the fully wood-wainscoted hall. A stage-like construction – a wood-framed dissecting table, to be precise – rests prominently in the centre of Teatro Anatomico. The parts of the human body used to be shown here; needless to stay, the church was always keeping a close eye on all such proceedings.
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