A tuberculosis sanatorium in Italy that later became a general hospital with a huge chapel and traditional Italian architecture.
Visited June 2018 Italy Closed, Abandoned
In 1911 the construction of the sanatorium was proposed, as a forerunner in Italy’s anti-tubercular struggle. The sanatorium opened in 1924 and completely fulfilled the hospitalisation requirements of TB patients. Further pavilions were built, the first in 1929 which had accommodation for 800 women, and another in 1930 which could accommodate 1000 children.
Archive image of the sanatorium
The sanatorium was situated in an area covered by magnificent pine forest. It was built far from large conurbations of the population, away from busy roads and establishments that could alter the purity of the air, while the forest protected it from the winds. The climate was consistently cooler than in the city, better ventilated in summer and less foggy in autumn.
Following the contraction of the sanatoria sector, due to the advent of the antibiotic era, the availability of hospital beds progressively increased to around half of the accommodation capacity. From 1955 the establishment became a mixed use sanatorium and hospital until the 1970s, and as a general hospital thereafter. The hospital closed in 2015 when a neighbouring purpose built hospital opened to replace the ageing buildings of the old sanatorium.
Tuberculosis Sanatorium / Hospital, Italy – The hospital as it looks today
Main Entrance and Admin Block
Tuberculosis Sanatorium / Hospital, Italy – Main entrance lobbyTuberculosis Sanatorium / Hospital, Italy – Reception desk in the entranceTuberculosis Sanatorium / Hospital, Italy – Staircase in the admin blockTuberculosis Sanatorium / Hospital, Italy – Staircase in the admin blockTuberculosis Sanatorium / Hospital, Italy – One of the grand rooms in the admin blockTuberculosis Sanatorium / Hospital, Italy – Room with nice ornate ceilingTuberculosis Sanatorium / Hospital, Italy – Rear of the admin block looks out onto the chapelTuberculosis Sanatorium / Hospital, Italy – View towards the chapel and main hospitalTuberculosis Sanatorium / Hospital, Italy – Exterior view of the admin blockTuberculosis Sanatorium / Hospital, Italy – These fantastic corridors link to the main hospital buildingsTuberculosis Sanatorium / Hospital, Italy – Huge windows in the corridors
Main Hospital Buildings
Tuberculosis Sanatorium / Hospital, Italy – Main hospital buildings with rooftop pavilionsTuberculosis Sanatorium / Hospital, Italy – One of the hospital roomsTuberculosis Sanatorium / Hospital, Italy – Archive image of one of the hospital roomsTuberculosis Sanatorium / Hospital, Italy – Room with a bed frameTuberculosis Sanatorium / Hospital, Italy – Wheelchair in a corridorTuberculosis Sanatorium / Hospital, Italy – Curtains hanging in a wardTuberculosis Sanatorium / Hospital, Italy – Treatment bedsTuberculosis Sanatorium / Hospital, Italy – Treatment bedsTuberculosis Sanatorium / Hospital, Italy – Surgery with operating lightTuberculosis Sanatorium / Hospital, Italy – Small operating theatre with light
The Central Chapel
Tuberculosis Sanatorium / Hospital, Italy – Exterior of the chapelTuberculosis Sanatorium / Hospital, Italy – Interconnecting corridor to chapelTuberculosis Sanatorium / Hospital, Italy – Inside the huge chapelTuberculosis Sanatorium / Hospital, Italy – View down the chapelTuberculosis Sanatorium / Hospital, Italy – View across the chapel