“Roberto Papi” Museum

The institution of the Roberto Papi Museum in the city of Salerno has a strong historical-cultural value that is perfectly linked to the local tradition founded on the illustrious presence of the Medical School of Salerno. Although there is no close link of chronological descent, the presence of the Museum greatly enriches what can be a historical cultural itinerary consisting of streets, museums, significant places such as the Minerva Garden, which take us back to the most illustrious source of medical science in the West – the Medical School of Salerno – up to a more current collection (from the XVII to the XX century) of the history of medicine and surgical instruments kept in the new Roberto Papi Museum.
Mario and Ferdinando Papi, respectively father and brother of Roberto, to whom the museum is dedicated, donated a collection of medical-surgical equipment and historical instruments to the Municipality of Salerno, some of which are very rare and referable to all branches of medicine. This collection is distributed on two levels, in eleven large rooms of the historic Galdieri Palace.
The originality in the recreation of this museum consists in the research and attention to detail with which the precious objects, datable between the XVII and XX century, have been placed.
Roberto Papi, of Roman origin, spent his life collecting very rare pieces such as the Mathieu hood of a late 18^th-century warship, the oral hygiene case with Empire gold decorations and many other equipment that have been kept inside the museum in display cases created by the well-known graphic artist from Salerno Gelsomino D’Ambrosio. To intrigue visitors and also to re-propose the atmospheres of past centuries, in many rooms, settings of medical life scenes have been recreated such as: military field infirmaries dating back to World War I, the 16^th -century pharmacy, the pick-up barber shop and many other scenarios which, from the ground floor, where the apothecary’s shop is set up, lead to the second level where rooms for all sectors of medicine are reconstructed.

The Museum is located in the splendid Galdieri Palace in Trotula de Ruggiero Street, whose significant name further marks the importance and merits covered by the distinguished Salerno Medical School. The Medical School, in addition to being the oldest medical school in Europe, was the first to pave the way for women’ emancipation in professional activities. Trotula de Ruggero, a noble woman from Salerno, who lived in the XI century at the Lombard court of Guaimario IV, was the first female doctor famous for having written the gynecological treaty De passionibus mulierum curandarum and the first book on female cosmetics, the De ornatu mulierum.
Her knowledge in the gynecological field was extraordinary and many women resorted to her treatment. She also made new discoveries in the field of obstetrics and sexual diseases. She looked for new methods to make childbirth less painful and for birth control. In contrast to the medical doctrines of the time, she dealt with the problem of infertility, looking for the causes not only in women, but also in men.
This street leads to the Garden of Minerva, the place where this illustrious “Schola” was formed. In this wonderful green space, plants were grown from which the active ingredients used for therapeutic purposes were obtained, and real didactic activities were carried out to show the students of the Medical School the plants with their names and their characteristics. The current appearance of the Garden is the result of an XVIII century restoration. The space is divided into terraces, equipped with tubs and fountains decorated with limestone creations.
The various terraces are connected by a staircase characterized by square pillars with stucco decorations that guide the visitor to the belvedere.

Site
Via Trotula de Ruggiero, 23

Visiting hours
Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday open upon reservation
from Thursday to Saturday from 9.30 to 13.00 and from 18.00 to 20.00
Sunday from 9.30 to 13.00
For further information: +39 089/253190 – Fax: +39 089/2596500 – Mobile: +39 328/8957570