Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
large portion of them former ship's hands and Italian and Austrian servicemen, many of
whom were simply suffering trauma or were afflicted by conditions caused by poverty
and poor nutrition. A dedicated museum now documents their stories and some of the
nightmarish 'treatments' practised on them.
MUSEO DELLA FOLLIA
MAP
MUSEUM
GOOGLE MAP
(Museum of Madness; 041 524 011 914;
www.coopculture.it
;
Isola di San Servolo; adult/reduced €3/2; phone
bookings 9.30am-5.30pm Mon-Thu, to 3pm Fri; San Servolo)
As well as a poignant photographic col-
lection displaying portraits of patients before and after treatment, San Servolo's Museo
della Follia contains the full paraphernalia of psychiatric treatment of the day, including
chains, handcuffs, cages for ice showers, early electro-therapy machines and a rare
plethysmograph (the precursor of the lie detector).
The tour also takes in the reconstructed anatomy theatre beside the church and the an-
cient pharmacy. For centuries many of Venice's medicines were concocted here - includ-
ing various 'cures' for syphilis, a common cause of mental-health problems, even after the
discovery of penicillin. Since most penicillin in Italy was set aside for the military well in-
to the 20th century, it remained a sought-after street drug.
