Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters

Take your next trip with Atlas Obscura!

Our small-group adventures are inspired by our Atlas of the world's most fascinating places, the stories behind them, and the people who bring them to life.

Visit Adventures
Trips Highlight
Taktsang Lhakhang, also known as the “Tiger’s Nest”.
Bhutan • 11 days, 10 nights
Festivals & Temples of Bhutan
from
Macchu Picchu
Peru • 10 days, 9 nights
Peru: Machu Picchu & the Last Incan Bridges
from
View all trips
Top Destinations
Latest Places
Most Popular Places Random Place Lists Itineraries
Add a Place
Download the App
Top Destinations
View All Destinations »

Countries

  • Australia
  • Canada
  • China
  • France
  • Germany
  • India
  • Italy
  • Japan

Cities

  • Amsterdam
  • Barcelona
  • Beijing
  • Berlin
  • Boston
  • Budapest
  • Chicago
  • London
  • Los Angeles
  • Mexico City
  • Montreal
  • Moscow
  • New Orleans
  • New York City
  • Paris
  • Philadelphia
  • Rome
  • San Francisco
  • Seattle
  • Stockholm
  • Tokyo
  • Toronto
  • Vienna
  • Washington, D.C.
Latest Places
View All Places »
The ‘Old Secretariat’ government building in New Delhi.
The 'Old Secretariat'
This set is inspired by a Roman arena.
Bozdağ Film Platolari
The Sea Water Distilling Plant.
Sea Water Distilling Plant
Contemplative paths.
Ayo Rock Formations
Latest Places to Eat & Drink
View All Places to Eat »
The sign declares this the number-one gumbo shop in town.
Gumbo Hut Shioya
The pavlova comes crowned with jewel-like fruit.
Central Park Boathouse
The Village Tavern of Long Grove - exterior.
The Village Tavern
Hunter House Hamburgers
L’Escamoteur
Recent Stories
All Stories Video Podcast
Most Recent Stories
View All Stories »
The truth is out there—somewhere.
The Truth Is Out There at the Dreamland Resort (or Should We Say ‘Area 51?’)
19 days ago
Edward Payson Weston
How the 6-Day Race Became an American Spectator Obsession
20 days ago
Alresford Spy Toilet
This Public Bathroom in a Sleepy English Village Was an Epicenter for Cold War Espionage
22 days ago
Manhattan Well
The Manhattan Well: How Aaron Burr and Alexander Hamilton United to Solve a Murder Mystery
23 days ago

No search results found for
“”

Make sure words are spelled correctly.

Try searching for a travel destination.

Places near me Random place

Popular Destinations

  • Paris
  • London
  • New York
  • Berlin
  • Rome
  • Los Angeles
Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters
Sign In Join
Places near me Random place
All Italy Rome Museo Storico Nazionale Dell' Arte Sanitaria

Museo Storico Nazionale Dell' Arte Sanitaria

One of the most important yet well-hidden museums dedicated to the history of medicine.

Rome, Italy

Added By
Kandiss
Email
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list
  Kandiss / Atlas Obscura User
  Kandiss / Atlas Obscura User
  Kandiss / Atlas Obscura User
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list

This Place Is a Stub

Help improve this place with additional information or photos.

Make an Edit

About

Located just east of Rome's Vatican City, this medical history museum is housed in a former anatomical theater where students dissected corpses to better understand human anatomy. The anatomical theater was part of the complex of Santo Spirito in Sassia, a learning hospital established in the 12th century.

Today, the museum includes a reconstruction of a 17th-century pharmacy and alchemical laboratory (where you can see a reproduction of Rome's famous alchemical door), a large library of old books, and an impressive display of anatomical models. The wax models include the alleged skull of Pliny the Elder, and a rare ivory anatomical Venus from the 17th century. 

Related Tags

Anatomy Museums Medical Museums Wax Anatomy Anatomical Venuses Anatomical Theaters History Museums And Collections

Know Before You Go

You can take public transit to the Ottaviano station and from there walk 15 minutes to get to the museum. It is only open only on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m., or by calling to schedule a visit. Admission is 5 euro.  

Atlas Obscura Adventures

Flavors of Italy: Roman Carbonara, Florentine Steak & Venetian Cocktails

Savor local cuisine across Rome, Florence & Venice.

Book Now

Community Contributors

Added By

Kandiss

Published

June 7, 2019

Edit this listing

Make an Edit
Add Photos
Museo Storico Nazionale Dell' Arte Sanitaria
Lungotevere in Sassia, 3
Rome
Italy
41.901175, 12.46307
Visit Website
Get Directions

Nearby Places

Wheel of the Exposed

Rome, Italy

miles away

Passetto di Borgo

Rome, Italy

miles away

Fontana della Terrina

Rome, Italy

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Rome

Rome

Italy

Places 149
Stories 25

Nearby Places

Wheel of the Exposed

Rome, Italy

miles away

Passetto di Borgo

Rome, Italy

miles away

Fontana della Terrina

Rome, Italy

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Rome

Rome

Italy

Places 149
Stories 25

Related Places

  • La Specola.

    Florence, Italy

    La Specola Anatomical Collection

    The largest and most famous wax anatomical collection anywhere in the world.

  • Historic medication bottles

    Hamburg, Germany

    Museum of Medical History Hamburg

    Wax models of disease and deformity are on display at this German medical museum.

  • Berlin, Germany

    Berliner Medizinhistorisches Museum

    Home to 10,000 medical specimens including the remains of Rudolf Virchow's extensive collection of pathological specimens.

  • Pavia, Italy

    The Museums of the University of Pavia

    A collection of collections, including an anatomy museum, the “Cabinet of Physics of Alessandro Volta, a museum of natural history, mineral collection, and much much more...

  • Paris, France

    Museum of the History of Medicine

    One of the oldest medical collections in Europe focusing on rare surgical instruments.

  • Anatomical exhibits at the Museo di Palazzo Poggi

    Bologna, Italy

    Museo di Palazzo Poggi Anatomy & Obstetrics Collection

    An extraordinary collection of 18th century anatomical waxworks.

  • Mexico City, Mexico

    Museo de la Medicina Mexicana

    A scientific repository of goiters, boils and other ailments throughout Mexican history.

  • Anatomical Venus by Clemente Susini

    Cagliari, Italy

    Wax Anatomy Museum at University of Cagliari

    A collection of wax anatomy by the great sculptor Clemente Susini.

Aerial image of Vietnam, displaying the picturesque rice terraces, characterized by their layered, verdant fields.
Atlas Obscura Membership

Become an Atlas Obscura Member


Join our community of curious explorers.

Become a Member

Get Our Email Newsletter

Follow Us

Facebook YouTube TikTok Instagram Pinterest RSS Feed

Get the app

Download the App
Download on the Apple App Store Get it on Google Play
  • All Places
  • Latest Places
  • Most Popular
  • Places to Eat
  • Random
  • Nearby
  • Add a Place
  • Stories
  • Food & Drink
  • Itineraries
  • Lists
  • Video
  • Podcast
  • Newsletters
  • All Trips
  • Family Trip
  • Food & Drink
  • History & Culture
  • Wildlife & Nature
  • FAQ
  • Membership
  • Feedback & Ideas
  • Community Guidelines
  • Product Blog
  • Unique Gifts
  • Work With Us
  • About
  • FAQ
  • Advertise With Us
  • Advertising Guidelines
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy
  • Terms of Use
Atlas Obscura

© 2025 Atlas Obscura. All Rights Reserved.