Collezione delle Cere Anatomiche «Luigi Cattaneo»
University collection of wax models, anatomical preparations and antique medical books from the 18th and 19th centuries, with free admission.
Have only individual sections read aloud
About the museum
The Collection is part of the Sistema Museale di Ateneo (university museum system) of the University of Bologna and is named after the anatomist Luigi Cattaneo. It aims to preserve, display and care for the heritage inherited from the past and, at the same time, to produce new scientific knowledge.
It illustrates normal and pathological human anatomy and the path of medical scholars between the 18th and 19th centuries, when, having acquired knowledge of the nature of the body, they turned to the study of its diseases. The collections complete the 18th-century collection of normal human anatomy kept at the Museo di Palazzo Poggi.
The route includes beeswax models of normal anatomy, among them works by Clemente Susini, Giuseppe Astorri, Cesare Bettini and Leonida Berti; a large series of pathological anatomy waxes from the former Museo “Cesare Taruffi”; mummified, dry and fluid-preserved anatomical preparations; and antique books and slides, among them the first illustrations of the neuron by Golgi and Ramón y Cajal. One area is devoted to the history of knowledge about breast cancer.
Highlights
- Normal-anatomy beeswax models by Susini, Astorri, Bettini and Berti
- Pathological-anatomy waxes from the former Museo Taruffi
- Mummified, dry and fluid-preserved anatomical preparations
- Antique books with the first illustrations of the neuron
- Route on the history of knowledge about breast cancer
Permanent exhibition
- Collezione delle Cere Anatomiche «Luigi Cattaneo» – Wax models of normal and pathological anatomy, anatomical preparations and antique medical books from the 18th and 19th centuries.
- Operated by
- Alma Mater Studiorum – Università di Bologna (Sistema Museale di Ateneo)
- Visitors per year
- approx. 11,666
Admission & discounts
Admission is free.
Free admission, with online booking. Guided and educational visits on request for individuals, groups, schools, university student groups and summer camps.
Accessibility
- Partially 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 Collection has access difficulties for people with mobility impairments; use of the lift is allowed only on weekdays (information at +39 051 209 1556).
Kids & families
- Family tours & workshops
Guided visits for adults and families and educational workshops for children, with a quarterly programme.
Getting there & parking
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Amenities & dining
Toilets, lift and snack area.
Events & venue rental
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Plan your visit
| Guided tours | yes |
|---|---|
| School programs | yes |
| Good to know | Booking is required for groups of more than 10 people visiting independently, by writing to sma.cereanatomiche@unibo.it. Guided visits for adults and families and educational workshops for children (October–December 2026) are offered. |
