Ospedale psichiatrico di San Niccolò, Ex-Psychiatric hospital in Siena
The Ospedale psichiatrico di San Niccolò is a large hospital complex in Siena built on the site of a 14th-century monastery. The main building features a rectangular layout with two internal courtyards and a central chapel, while additional structures including workshops and pavilions spread across the grounds, creating a compound designed for both care and productive activities.
The monastery of San Niccolò was founded in 1383 and served as a religious center until its closure in 1810. Following confiscation, it was converted into a psychiatric hospital in 1818 under doctors like Giuseppe Lodoli who introduced more humane treatment approaches focused on work and recovery.
The central chapel and internal courtyards show how this place was designed as a self-contained community where patients lived and worked together. The workshops and gardens reveal that daily activities and productive labor were seen as essential to recovery and care.
When exploring the grounds, note that some areas remain in active university use and may not be fully accessible. The Conolly Pavilion displays historical architecture but requires care as it remains in poor condition and restoration work is ongoing.
The Conolly Pavilion is one of Italy's few remaining panopticon structures, named after English psychiatrist John Conolly who advocated for non-violent treatment methods. This building design with its central control point was also misused as a prison during fascism, a dark chapter in its history.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
