Museum of Anatomy, Turin

Museum of Anatomy (Museo di anatomia umana Luigi Rolando) in Turin has collected the centuries-old achievements of biologists and physicians who study the human body in its collections. A lot of anatomical models, created in almost 300 years are stored here. It is an interesting place where you can learn a lot of new things. Of course, the spectacle is not for everyone. Not for the faint-hearted, so sure.

History of the museum

For centuries, anatomical studies have been banned. But gradually the bans fell. In 1563, the Savoy scholar Angelo Visca settled in Turin, and it was the starting point of the progress in the field of anatomy in the city. In 1739, professor of anatomy Gian Battista Bianchi developed a project for the Royal Museum of Anatomy, approved by the monarch himself Charles Emanuele III. Initially, the museum was located in the premises of the Royal Institute and was part of it. In the 19th century, it changed its location several times. Meanwhile, in 1830 there was a significant replenishment of its collections thanks to Professor Luigi Rolando. A significant part of the new exhibits were wax models. By the end of the 19th century, the museum's exposition was supplemented with a number of dry and liquid models. Thanks to the Darwin’s theory the anthropological and primatological collections actively began to develop. In 1898 the museum moved to the building of the Anatomical Institute, where it is still today. In 2006, the restoration of the building was completed, giving it an even more beautiful view.

Exposition of the museum

The museum retained its character, typical of the 19th century. It is very harmonious with the beautiful palace building, where the institution is located. Going here, you are transfered to the past, to a mysterious era of amazing discoveries. Furniture in the museum is not much younger than the drugs here. All of them are divided into two parts, corresponding to the phases of development of anatomical studies: "artificial anatomy" that studied the structure of the body mainly on individual samples (18-19 century), and "natural anatomy" (19-20 century). The museum exposition includes 4 collections, located in two halls.

1. Anatomical wax models. In the initial phase of research, it was difficult to preserve organs and corpses, so they created models of wax, wood, gypsum and papier-mache. Wax models were first made in Italy, in Bologna and Florence. The collection has more than 200 exhibits, the lion's share of which refers to the end of 18 and the first half of the 19th century. Many of them were made in the workshop of Luigi Rolando.
2. Dry and liquid models. Show a new round of research and technology conservation of organs, starting in the second half of the 19th century. In this collection there are many muscular models, organs, nerves and blood vessels. Most of them are painted. A special place is occupied by a collection of dry brains. And the highlight of the collection is a series of human skeletons, starting with the formation of fetal bones in the mother's womb and ending with adults.
3. Craniological collection. It was collected in the second half of the 19th century and enriched in 1913 with exhibits from the museum of the Turin Medical Academy. It includes more than 1000 skulls of people of different ages and sex. In this collection there are skulls, dating back to centuries before our era. Among them there are skulls of ancient Etruscans and the oldest fossils found in the territory of the Apennines.
4. Phrenological collection. It includes a collection of many models of heads, bare skulls and brains, including famous personalities (Raphael, Napoleon Bonaparte, Count Cavour and others). Phrenologists believed that there is a connection between the shape of the skull and the mental qualities of a person. Later this theory collapsed. In the museum you can see the models created by the founder of this pseudoscience – Franz Gall.

Naturally, the museum holds various exhibitions, conducts its own scientific research. Educational programs for schoolchildren and students are developed here.

How to get there

Museum of Anatomy is located in the San Salvario district, on Corso Massimo d'Azeglio, 52. In the same building there are also the Museum of Criminal Anthropology and the Fruit Museum. And crossing the street, it is easy to get into the beautiful Parco del Valentino with a lot of statues and fountains. It also houses the Botanical Garden. You can get there by tram № 9, and buses № 47, 67, 108, 260, 299, 302. Stop Torino Esposizioni.

Opening hours: from 10:00 to 18:00, closed on Sundays. Phone  number (+39) 011 6708195.

Admission: the price of a full ticket is 5 euros, wih a discount (pensioners after 65 years, children 12-18) – 3 euros. For children under 12 – admission is free. There is an opportunity to save by purchasing a common ticket for 3 neighboring museums for 10 euros (with a discount – 6 euro). Data of April 2018.