Fregionaia Hospital, Former psychiatric hospital in Maggiano hills, Lucca, Italy.
Fregionaia Hospital is a psychiatric facility located on hillsides near Lucca, housed within buildings of a former monastery. The complex featured extensive gardens and agricultural areas that were integrated into patient care and daily activities.
The facility opened in 1773 after Pope Clement XIV approved the conversion of a Lateran Canons monastery into a medical institution. This transformation of the religious space marked the beginning of psychiatric care at this location.
Physician Mario Tobino worked here and later documented patient life and medical practices in his writings. His accounts offer insight into daily routines and the approach to treatment that defined this place during the 20th century.
The site sits on hillsides outside Lucca, so expect uneven paths and inclines during your visit. Wear comfortable footwear and allow time to explore the gardens and building spaces at a leisurely pace.
Patients lived in individual accommodations with separate rooms for specific cases and designated areas for gender-specific treatment programs. The facility also featured a dance hall with an organ and employed work and music therapy as part of recovery.
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