The University of Bologna was established in 1008, and its headquarters were in the lavish 16th-century Palazzo dell'Archiginnasio for centuries. Today, the palace is home to a library and the historic Anatomical Theater (Teatro Anatomico), an amphitheatre-style room built in 1637 and paneled entirely in spruce, with a coffered ceiling and wall niches holding carved wooden statues of the most influential physicians in Western history. Of particular note are the wooden muscle models on each side of the professor’s throne-like chair known as gli spellati (the skinned ones) and the enormous table in the center of the theater’s floor where dissections took place.
This beautiful if slightly off-beat university hall is one of the most fascinating sights in Bologna, and included in most walking and bike tours of the city. Palazzo dell'Archiginnasio is set directly on Bologna’s main Piazza Maggiore, making it easy to visit along with the nearby Basilica di San Petronio and highlights like the Two Towers and the churches of Santo Stefano and San Domenico. Bologna’s rich cuisine is one of Italy’s most famous, so gourmands should opt for a food tour that combines sightseeing with tastings of local specialties.