Ep. 76: Volterra Lunatic Asylum, Part 1 (1888-1912) Artwork

Behind the Walls of the World’s Psychiatric Hospitals

This podcast examines the history of now-defunct or abandoned psychiatric hospitals. Listen every week to learn about the history of mental health care and the true stories of the people who lived and worked behind the walls.

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Behind the Walls of the World’s Psychiatric Hospitals

Ep. 76: Volterra Lunatic Asylum, Part 1 (1888-1912)

November 24, 2024 • Dr. Sarah Gallup • Episode 76

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In this week's episode, we head to Tuscany, Italy, to the hilltop town of Volterra. Learn about the early history of the Volterra Lunatic Asylum, the political climate of Italy at the time, and the controversial treatments of the first asylum director, Dr. Luigi Scabia. Finally, hear the stories of two artists who were sent to Volterra later in their lives.

The main source for this episode is the Manicomio di Volterra website. All other sources will be listed at the end of the episode transcript.

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