Faculty of Medicine of Bahia, Medical educational museum in Terreiro de Jesus, Salvador, Brazil
The Faculty of Medicine at the Federal University of Bahia is a three-story building with colonial architecture, large windows, and ornate facades that functions as both an active learning center and a museum space. Inside, it houses an extensive collection of historical medical documents, books, and research materials spanning several centuries.
The building was founded in 1808 as Brazil's first medical school when Prince João VI introduced formal medical education to the country. After a destructive fire in 1905, it was completely rebuilt by architect Victor Dubugras and reopened in 1909.
The building sits at a central plaza where students, visitors, and locals pass through daily, serving as a place where medical knowledge has been shared across generations. This ongoing use makes it a living part of the city's story, where past and present education exist side by side.
The building is easily accessible and sits in a central location where it stays lively throughout the day, so plan time to explore both the architecture and interior thoroughly. It makes sense to visit in the morning or early afternoon when there is less student activity and you can view the museum collections at a comfortable pace.
The building houses a remarkable collection of over 5 million pages of medical documents and rare books dating back to the 16th century. These archives make it an important research center for those wanting to understand the history of medical science and education in South America.
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