ospedale del ceppo

with the right guide this could be interesting sadly our guide seemed bored and did not bring this underground hospital alive. She had all the dates but didnt really tell us much apart from when the creek was diverted and the dates when the walls were built. The interesting bit was the very old anatomy builing very small and beautifully painted with a domed ceiling, you could see where the 12 students sat as the professor didmembered the corpse during the lesson, again we had to ask what is this and what is that she wasnt going to bother to tell us otherwise. The little gift shop was attractive with nice things, when you go in to the hospital entrance look carefully for the tourist office for buying tickets we got tickets and discovered we were queueing for a blood test!!

If you visit Pistoia, you should certainly take a visit to the hospital ! You can visit the smallest amphiteater in the world and the underground gallery.

The anatomical teater is Nice. Also seeing a modern - recently closed - hospital behind the famous old facade. But the newly excavated tunnel/ underground river was set up very nicely.

Billed as a 'subterranean' experience thus tour turned out to be h highlight of our holiday. We didn't know what to expect but it's a guided walk along a former river course that was covered over as the medieval hospital gradually expanded over the next 600 years. You are only about 3 metres underground but it's fascinating! We were the only two on our tour and the guide spoke in excellent English (although her pronunciation of nurses sounded like nazis and had us in hysterics). The tour lasts about 45 minutes underground and then you a shown the old operating theatre - not much to see but they are very proud if it. Bizarrely the hospital had closed two days before our visit, having been replaced by a new building out if town so it was like the Marie Celeste. The guide told us the old part would be taken over as a museum whilst the modern parts would be demolished and redeveloped. We were worried that Pistoia wouldn't match up to the other places we visited, but this tour wouldn't have been missed for the world.

Most attractions are churches and homes, but this is a hospital that still seems very real if scary in its rudimentary understanding of medicine. The interior art work will cause you to catch your breath in its realism. Fortunately, just outside on the square is a restaurant with good pasta and better wine. Try to go to Pistoia on market day. Saturday was market day in 2012 and the main square was so crowded one couldn't distinguish the main buildings until noon, and then suddenly, all tents were gone and medieval Italy was fully visible. The town hall was the scene of a wedding which we could enjoy from afar as why couple emerged to shouts of best wishes and rice.

This is a must-see when visiting Pistoia. The tour takes you underneath the hospital to various archaeological excavations which show the different phases of the development of the city and then on into the historic parts of the hospital, including the lavishly decorated anatomical theatre (the smallest in the world apparently!), and a display of old surgical instruments. We were a bit worried when we bought the tickets as the person who sold us them informed us that the tour would not be in English (she gave us a handout in English). However, when we started the tour, the guide explained everything in Italian and also in English. Although her English wasn't perfect, her enthusiasm and willingness to try more than made up for it and we managed to get the gist of everything. Overall it is one of the best guided tours I've ever been on and I would heartily recommend it!

The most important building in Pistoia. Il Ceppo is the first hospital in Italy and the decorations are wonderful. Definitely to be visited.

Amazing architecture - do visit for sure in case you are visiting this area. The whole building has works belonging to different centuries. Some parts are decorated with beautiful ceramic tiles making the facade very attractive.

I have never seen anything like it. We most especially liked the hospital and the old surgical instruments they used.

This museum is unusual, that it shows a city under the city. Not so much as buildings, but what was, before the above city. We had a guide which pointed out the difference in old materials used in times gone by. It was a great experience. This is one museum that should not be missed.

La visita guidata sotterranea al canale che scorre sotto l'ospedale é interessantissima. Una scoperta davvero. In gamba la guida Signora Francesca. Si puó vedere anche uno dei primi teatri anatomici.

Gli ospedali sono luoghi del dolore e della cura, ma lo sguardo che e' possibile avere nell'opsedale del ceppo e' unico. E' un tuffo nella storia dell'assistenza sanitaria (l'ospedale e' stato attivo dal 1200 al 2013) in grado di appassionare anche i nonaddetti ai lavori, grazie anche alle ottime guide, comprese nel prezzo del biglietto.

Una signorina molto gentile e preparata ci ha fatto visitate il sottosuolo dell Ospedale del Ceppo Tutto molto interessante

Da effettuare la visita guidata dei sotterranei: è un interessante momento di storia cittadina.Se però soffite di mal di schiena attenzione: ci sono tratti in cui bisogna camminare piegati per la ridotta altezza delle volte

Voglio soltanto dire che Pistoia la mia piccola citta'dove vivo e' da visitareluogo con munumenti interessanti - ceramiche della robbia da vedere- una bella piazza del Duomo bellissima-ma soprattutto posto dove alloggiare- perché comodo per arrivare bene nelle altre citta vicine della Toscana- venite a trovarci-io prossimamente spero di aprire un picco affitta camere- vi aspetto- ciao a tutti