Museo Camillo Golgi

About the museum

The Museo Camillo Golgi was established in October 2012 in Palazzo Botta, in the historic centre of Pavia, to tell the story of the University's Institute of General Pathology and Histology, one of the best-known biomedical research centres in Europe between the 19th and 20th centuries. Paolo Mantegazza described it as “the laboratory where a discovery is made every day”.

The route unfolds through several rooms that recreate the institute's spaces. The first is dedicated to the directors, from Mantegazza to Giulio Bizzozero, Aldo Perroncito, Emilio Veratti and Piera Locatelli, the first woman to head the Institute. The second illustrates Golgi's discoveries, from the black reaction to his studies on malaria and the internal reticular apparatus (the Golgi apparatus), identified in this very building; it displays publications, syringes, microtomes, microscopes, camera lucidas and original photographic plates. The third commemorates his students, including Veratti, Adelchi Negri, Giovanni Marenghi and Perroncito.

The museum also includes the frescoed lecture hall where Golgi taught for about thirty years and which in 1900 hosted the congress of the Anatomische Gesellschaft, as well as what remains of the old Museum of the History of Pharmacy, with furnishings and instruments from old pharmacies. The museum is part of the Sistema Museale di Ateneo of the University of Pavia.

Highlights

• Reconstruction of the study of the directors of the Institute of General Pathology
• Room on Golgi's discoveries with microscopes, microtomes and original plates
• Frescoed lecture hall where Golgi taught
• Surviving collection of the old Museum of the History of Pharmacy
• Room of Golgi's students

Permanent exhibition

• Museo Camillo Golgi – Rooms for the directors, for Golgi and his students, the historic frescoed lecture hall and what remains of the old Museum of the History of Pharmacy.

Founded

2012

Operated by

Università degli Studi di Pavia – Sistema Museale di Ateneo

Director

Maria Carla Garbarino

Visitors per year

approx. 523

Admission & discounts

Free admission also for licensed tourist guides and tour escorts, teachers accompanying school groups, journalists with press card, ANMS members, ICOM card holders, Abbonamento Musei Lombardia holders and institutional guests. Tickets are also on sale online.

Accessibility

• Wheelchair accessible
• Elevator
• Accessible restroom: no information
• Accessible parking: no information
• Service dogs welcome: no information
• Tactile models & exhibits: no information
• Sign language tours: no information
• Easy-to-read materials: no information
• Audio description: no information

The museum has a lift (button marked “piano 2”) accessible to people with reduced mobility.

Kids & families

The educational programme for schools is run by Ad Maiora; the family ticket is valid for two adults with one or more young people aged 14 to 26.

Getting there & parking

The museum is in Palazzo Botta, in the historic centre of Pavia, in a limited traffic zone (ZTL) with camera-controlled access.

Amenities & dining

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Events & venue rental

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

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