HALLS OF NATURAL HISTORY
These rooms were among the most exciting wonders visible in Palazzo Poggi during the 18th century, formed by the aggregation of various natural history collections, including the Aldrovandian and Cospian collections. Today, the visit is entirely dedicated to Ulisse Aldrovandi, the great Bolognese naturalist who significantly contributed to the revival of natural sciences, bridging the Renaissance and modernity.
OBSTETRICS HALL
This hall houses a collection of wax anatomical tables, clay models, and surgical instruments from the Bolognese physician Giovan Antonio Galli (1708-1782). His aim was to bridge the gap in obstetrics between scientific knowledge and practical knowledge: while physicians and surgeons held theoretical knowledge, midwives, often undereducated, assisted parturients solely based on experience.
HALLS OF ANATOMICAL WAXES
These halls feature 18th-century anatomical wax figures belonging to the Institute of Sciences. The two main collections are those created by Ercole Lelli (1702-1766), dedicated to studying the human body, particularly bones and muscles, and that of the couple Anna Morandi (1714-1774) and Giovanni Manzolini (1700-1755), who explored the anatomy and functioning of the sensory organs. The section concludes with the statue of the Venerina, created by the Tuscan ceroplast Clemente Susini (1754-1814).
HALLS OF PHYSICS
The Institute of Sciences’ fame was largely linked to the abundance and modernity of equipment in the physics rooms. The first donation by the institute’s founder, Luigi Ferdinando Marsili, consisted of tools useful for studying physical phenomena related to astronomy and biology, and throughout the century, new materials were added, thanks particularly to the intervention of Pope Benedict XIV and later Cardinal Gioannetti.
HALLS OF MILITARY ARCHITECTURE
These rooms house fortification schemes designed and built by the most eminent Italian, French, and German engineers, which were part of the 18th-century “Camera di Architettura Militare.” The wooden tables depict existing fortresses and theoretical fortification systems, serving as important tools for studying the urban planning of the era. Models and drawings of artillery, along with modern models illustrating attack and defense systems, are also displayed.
HALLS OF SHIPS AND ANCIENT MAPS
The museum showcases the entire “Camera di Geografia e Nautica” of the Institute of Sciences, which consists of precious naval models from the 17th and 18th centuries and contemporary geographical maps. The institute assembled this elegant fleet of warships to study the advanced technology on which European nations relied for their military and political fortunes, the security of trade, and consequently, the grandeur of the state.
FAR EASTERN ART HALL
The works on display in this rotating exhibition come from two Bolognese collections: that of the Fondazione del Monte di Bologna e Ravenna and that of the Centro Studi d’Arte Estremo-Orientale. The collection of Japanese xylographs from the Fondazione del Monte di Bologna e Ravenna includes over 500 prints made by some of the major Japanese artists of the 19th century, such as Hiroshige, Kunisada, and Kuniyoshi. The luxurious theatrical prints from Osaka are also of extraordinary interest. The collection from the Centro Studi d’Arte Estremo-Orientale consists of 160 xylographic prints and illustrated Japanese books, a collection of over 170 objects of various materials, and 34 Chinese and Japanese paintings.
