Many artifacts dated within the structure, including flasks and vessels, glassware, a finely crafted bronze mortar dated 1630, a glass distiller, a cast iron citrus press, a wooden press and collector for bergamot essences from the 1800s, various ancient and precious copper containers for bergamot essences, also requested by the Bergamot Museum of RC. Portable travel scale. Also present are numerous pharmacy vases in darkened glass with octagonal bases, each bearing a label indicating the extract it contained (“hellebore extract”, “gentian extract”, “rhubarb extract”, etc.), along with a vast collection of cylindrical bottles, complete with stoppers, containing organic substances. Typical distillation instruments, the alembics were always part of pharmaceutical equipment. Two bronze mortars with bronze pestles as well. The smaller mortar features the caduceus icon on its body.
The Rabainisia Library initially consisted of the bequest from the collection owned by the ancestors of Dr. Penna: Dr. Giuseppina Gegnacorsi, pharmacist, and Dr. Domenico Bova, veterinarian, comprising about 1,500 volumes related to pharmacological and veterinary topics. More recent are the volumes recovered from the personal library of Dr. Aldo Penna, a surgeon specialized in sports medicine, and Dr. Vera, pharmacist. Subsequent acquisitions enriched the library with works on scientific disciplines, chemistry, biology, physiology, biochemistry, pharmacology, hygiene, pathology, pharmacological botany, etc.
Note: the Rabainisia Library is open to the public on the first Tuesday of every month, while during the summer period it is possible to visit the museum by appointment.
Information about the Pharmacy History Museum and Rabainisia Library
Via Ravagnese Inferiore, 2
Reggio di Calabria (Reggio di Calabria)
3476746269
mariagraziapenna@libero.it
https://www.museorabainisia.com/
Source: MIBACT
