MUSA – University Museum of Sciences and Arts

In the labyrinth of history of the historic centre, a place lies hidden that reveals the deepest mysteries of our very existence: it is MUSA, the University Museum of Sciences and Arts, with its extraordinary Anatomy Section.

MUSA – Museo Universitario delle Scienze e delle Arti

Housed in the historic Complex of Santa Patrizia, this museum is considered one of the most important of its kind in the world. Crossing its threshold is not just an act of curiosity, but a fascinating journey into the history of medicine and the incredible architecture of the human body.

Time seems to stand still before the magnificent 18th and 19th-century anatomical waxes, models of astonishing precision that blend artisanal expertise with scientific rigor. The visit continues among ancient dry and wet preserved specimens, and historical collections that recount centuries of study and discovery.

Unique in its kind is the Hall of the Cyclopes, a historic collection of teratological specimens (fetuses with malformations) which, far from any sensationalism, invites profound reflection on the complexity and variations of human biology, testifying to the progress of scientific research.

Visiting MUSA Anatomy is an unexpected and powerful experience, a silent dialogue between art and science that reveals, with respect and time-honoured knowledge, the perfect machine that allows us to live.