Roberto Papi Museum | Salerno, Italy

Museo Roberto Papi – Fondazione Scuola Medica Salernitana

The Roberto Papi Museum – Fondazione Scuola Medica Salernitana is a unique cultural institution dedicated to the history of medicine, located in the historic center of Salerno, on via Trotula de Ruggero, a street named in honor of one of the most distinguished figures of medieval medicine. Housed in a 17th-century building, the museum exhibits an exceptional private collection of medical instruments, dating from the 17th to the 20th century, which illustrates the historical evolution of diagnostic, surgical, and therapeutic practices. The museum is closely linked to the legacy of the Scuola Medica Salernitana—the first and most important medical school in medieval Europe—and plays a vital role in preserving and disseminating the scientific and cultural heritage of Western medicine. Trotula de Ruggero, to whom the street is dedicated, was a pioneering female physician and medical writer of the 11th century. Affiliated with the Salernitan School, she is best known for her contributions to women’s health and gynecology, and is considered one of the earliest known female doctors in Western history. Her legacy is a symbol of the progressive and inclusive nature of medical education in medieval Salerno.