Anatomical theatre of the Archiginnasio, Anatomical theatre in Palazzo dell'Archiginnasio, Bologna, Italy

The Anatomical Theatre of the Archiginnasio is a hall in the Palazzo dell'Archiginnasio, the first unified seat of the University of Bologna. Its walls are lined with wooden statues carved by Silvestro Giannotti between 1733 and 1736, depicting ancient and Bolognese physicians. Two skinned figures, the Spellati by Ercole Lelli, support the canopy above the teacher's chair, which is crowned by an allegory of Anatomy. A white table for dissections stands in the centre.

A first anatomical theatre was built in 1595 elsewhere; the present hall replaced it between 1636 and 1638, designed by Antonio Levanti. Its lacunar ceiling with Apollo and carved constellations dates from 1647–1649, and the room took its final form in 1733–1736. An air raid on 29 January 1944 almost completely destroyed it; after the war it was rebuilt using original pieces recovered from the rubble.

Wooden statues of celebrated doctors like Hippocrates and Galen line the walls, reflecting how medicine was taught as a learned tradition passed down through history. Visitors can still sense the respect for medical authority that once filled this room during lessons.

The theatre is on the first floor of the Archiginnasio palace, reached by a staircase from the entrance courtyard. The room is small and often crowded, so visiting early in the day allows time to examine the carved wooden statues and the lacunar ceiling without haste.

The two Spellati were carved by Ercole Lelli, known for his anatomical wax models. They support the canopy above the teacher's chair and are topped by an allegorical figure of Anatomy. The originals were recovered from the rubble after the 29 January 1944 air raid and reused in the postwar reconstruction.