Historical Herbarium

Inside the Gymnasium, in the room adjacent to the central hall that once hosted botany lessons (Schola regia botanices), there is a Historical Herbarium and a library.

The Historical Herbarium houses a valuable collection of exsiccata samples (dried plants) belonging to the Herbarium of Abbot Pierre Gave (Eastern Alps), acquired around 1970. The samples are stored in fine wooden containers, which at first glance look like real books.

The library, on the other hand, was created thanks to a donation by the heirs of Umberto Quattrocchi's book collection in 2020. The volumes are currently being catalogued.

This space was reopened to the public in October 2020, after more than twenty years. The reorganisation of the collections and materials stored here represents a further step forward in the care and enhancement of a place that has once again become fully accessible to the community. Today, it is also used to host temporary exhibitions.