Important milestone for the Mario Tobino Foundation which on 19 April 2024 will inaugurate the historic scientific laboratory of the former Maggiano Psychiatric Hospital recently restored thanks to the contribution of the Cassa di Risparmio di Lucca Foundation and located in a part of the building already under concession to the Mario Foundation Tobino since 2008. The laboratory will be named after Dr. Barbara Capovani one year after her tragic death.

Laboratory origins

In 1867 Gaetano Cappelli (Director of the asylum from 1866 to 1898) founded the medical library, purchased the first neurophysiology instruments, and established the laboratory for diagnostic investigations.

1918: In the offices of the medical directorate there is a library, equipped with important works and a considerable number of scientific journals. Attached to the library is a vast and complete cabinet for clinical and microscopic research . Taken from: “The Fregionaia mental hospital. Historical and descriptive notes" by Antonio Cappellini (General Secretary of the Province), 1918.

1978 May: after the promulgation of law 180, on 05/13/1978, Dr. Giovan Battista Giordano (doctor-psychiatrist from 1948 to 1979 and general director from 1954 to 1956) collects the tools of the old mental hospital activity, the anatomical findings and the ancient scientific apparatus in the premises of the now abandoned laboratory, to establish a specialist psychiatric museum. MORE INFO