The San Giovanni Battista Hospital in Turin is the present seat of the Regional Museum of Natural Sciences. The 17th century building was in use as a hospital till the beginning of the 20th century.
San Giovanni Battista Hospital Turin
Useful information
Address: Via Giovanni Giolitti, 36 – 10123 Torino. Phone: +39 800 329 329. Opening times: Wednesday to Friday from 15:00 till 19:00, Saturday and Sunday from 10:00 till 19:00, Monday and Tuesday closed. Ticket price: 5 Euros (discount: 2,50 Euro), free for ages 65+ and 18-.
History and description
The original, full name of the building was Ospedale Maggiore di San Giovanni Battista e della Città di Torino in Turin. It was designed by Amedeo di Castellamonte (1613-1683), whose father was also a famous architect.
Construction of the building started in 1680. It was only finished eighty years later, however.
Having been bombed and severely damaged, the building needed to be completely restored after World War II.
The benefactors who paid for its construction are celebrated in a portrait gallery inside the building.
In 1978, the building became the seat of the Museo Regionale di Scienze Naturali.