Moltissimi artifacts dated inside the structure, including beakers and vessels, glassware, a finely crafted Bronze Mortar dated 1630, a glass distiller, a cast iron press for Citrus fruits, 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 glass jars with an octagonal base, each bearing a label indicating the extract contained (“hellebore extract,” “gentian extract,” “rhubarb extract,” etc.), along with a vast collection of cylindrical bottles, complete with caps, containing organic substances. Typical distillation instruments, the stills were never missing among pharmaceutical equipment. Two bronze mortars with bronze pestles as well. The smaller mortar features the caduceus icon on its body.
The Rabainisia Library’s initial core is the legacy of the collection belonging to Dr. Penna’s ancestors, Dr. Giuseppina Gegnacorsi, pharmacist, and Dr. Domenico Bova, veterinarian, consisting of about 1,500 volumes related to pharmacological and veterinary themes. More recent are the volumes recovered from the personal library of Dr. Aldo Penna, surgeon specialized in sports medicine, and Dr. Vera, pharmacist. With subsequent acquisitions, the library has been enriched with works concerning 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 each month, while in the summer period, it is possible to visit the museum by appointment.
Information about the History of Pharmacy Museum and Rabainisia Library
Via Ravagnese Inferiore, 2
Reggio di Calabria (Reggio di Calabria)
3476746269
mariagraziapenna@libero.it
https://www.museorabainisia.com/
Source: MIBACT
