Collezione delle Cere Anatomiche Luigi Cattaneo
About This Museum
Did you know that one of the world's most profound anatomical collections was born from the need to teach surgery without human dissection? Tucked away within the University of Bologna's Institute of Anatomy, this isn't a grand, intimidating museum but a deeply fascinating and intimate academic space. You'll find yourself face-to-face with incredibly life-like wax models, each one a masterpiece of art and science that reveals the intricate layers of the human body. It’s a quiet, almost reverent place that makes you appreciate the sheer effort it took to understand our own inner workings.
Collection Highlights
Look for the 'Anatomical Venuses'—stunningly beautiful female figures with removable organs—and the strikingly direct teaching pieces showing dissected limbs and organs in vivid, almost unsettling detail. The collection of pathological waxes, depicting various diseases, is both haunting and historically significant.
Visitor Information
It's located on Via Irnerio 48, right in the university district, and feels like a secret waiting to be found. Since it's part of a working university department, it's wise to check their opening hours online before you go.
Architecture & Building
Housed in a classic, unassuming Bolognese university building; its exterior gives little hint of the extraordinary artistic and scientific treasures held within its historic walls.
Contact & Location
Address: Collezione delle Cere Anatomiche "Luigi Cattaneo", 48, Via Irnerio, Irnerio, Santo Stefano, Bologna, Emilia-Romagna, 40126, Italia
Phone: +39 051 209 1556
Website: Visit Website
