Museum of the Italian National Institute of Health 

 

The ISS Museum, inaugurated on 21 April 2017 by the President of the Republic, offers visitors a unique, multisensory journey, capable of captivating and involving young people and adults, allowing one to know the origins of the largest Italian research institute in the public health sector.

The Museum is a center for the dissemination of scientific culture related to the promotion and protection of public health online with the mission of the Italian National Institute of Health "promotion and protection of national and international public health through research, surveillance, regulation, control, prevention, communication, consultancy and training".

The museum is divided into distinct sections that embrace the history of the organization from its origins to the present day, with a look at its future prospects.  

Scientific instruments of historical interest 

The museum displays numerous scientific instruments that are part of a large collection consisting of around 900 objects. In the early nineties, a detailed survey began which initially concerned the instruments from the Physics Laboratory; it is an important collection of about 450 objects, some of which come from the Radio Office of the General Directorate of Public Health and from the Royal Physical Institute in via Panisperna. Subsequently, the instruments from the Therapeutic Chemistry Laboratories (used in the years 1947-1964 under the direction of Daniel Bovet), the Organic Elementary Microanalysis department (about 200 objects) and other Laboratories were cataloged.

Historical Photo Archive 

A section of the museum is dedicated to the historical photos of the ISS, a collection of images that document the history of the institution from before its foundation, until the 1960s. The photographic showcase of the Museum collects a sample of about 350 images that portray people, places and activities significant for the history of public health in Italy.

In addition to photos of the construction site, of the buildings under construction, including the original museum, and of the inauguration of the ISS, the gaze goes over some salient phases of the institution's institutional activity in a period full of historical events. These are events that mark the evolution of biomedical research, actions to protect health and scientific innovation, in all fields of study and application of health knowledge.

The review of photos present at the Museum concerns, in particular: the anti-malarial campaign in the areas of the Pontine marsh (between the first and second world wars), the laboratory activity (including the realization of the electron microscope), the penicillin pilot plant, in addition to the portraits of the ISS Nobel Prize scientists.

The overall corpus of historical photos (about 27,000 units) is being cataloged by an ad hoc working group of the ISS Publishing Activities Sector.

An exhibition on ISS activity during the Coronavirus pandemic is now hosted at the Museum.

The exhibition includes three main sections: 1) a section reporting facts and data involving ISS scientific research, surveillance, training and communication activities,  2) a section devoted to vaccines and a 3) photographic section of ISS researchers at work,  accompanied by pictures of Italian cities during the first lockdown period in 2020 and the recovery period in spring 2021. The exhibition included audiovisual documents produced during the pandemic to support communication.

During the pandemic, the ISS Museums has been organizing a series of direct Instagram, or live links that allowed people from home to be present within the walls that contain the precious historical heritage of the institution. The first live broadcast took place on April 21, 2020, the anniversary of the foundation of the ISS in 1934. The second live broadcast 25 April, on the occasion of the World Malaria Day 2020, was organized with the always virtual intervention of three malariologists from the Department of Infectious Diseases: Carlo Severini, Mariangela L'Episcopia, Giulia Siciliano. The third was a virtual journey in the ISS historical-photographic archive, a path accompanied by an illustrious guide, the photographer Settimio Benedusi, who explained the concept of "useful photo" as a cultural heritage.

Two of the three live broadcasts are available on the museum's social platforms (youtube, instagram and facebook) https://museo.iss.it/

“Visit the museum” 

Hours and Reservations

In this period of pandemic emergency the ISS Museum is closed. A protocol for visiting the Museum will be published as soon as possible.

Normally, the Museum is open to all citizens with particular attention to school students of all levels and from Monday to Friday in the 9:00-16:00 time slot, except for extraordinary openings.

Access to the Museum is allowed for groups of visitors from a minimum of 5 to a maximum of 25 at a time. The visit is allowed only in the presence of guides.

Visits are only possible upon reservation by writing to: museo@iss.it

Or call: (+39) 06 4990 6005

Purchase tickets

Different types of entry are provided:

Free admission for employees and former employees of the Italian National Institute of Health and their children, and for children under 10 years.

Reduced tickets for students over 10 and seniors over 65: € 3

Ordinary tickets for single visitor: € 5

Group tickets:

  • School groups with more than 15 students: € 30.00
  • Groups of 10: € 45.00
  • Groups of 20 people: € 80.00
  • Groups of 25 people: € 90.00
  • Groups of participants in events organized by subjects outside the Italian National Institute of Health who use the classroom service: € 100.00

At the time of booking, the names of the participants must be indicated (in the case of school groups, also the name of the school, class and section, the names of the companions and a telephone number).

Entrance tickets can be paid to the Museum Secretariat:

  • before entering the ISS Museum, for ordinary, group and school visitors
  • before the start of the Conference, for participants in events organized by subjects outside the Italian National Institute of Health who use the classroom service 

The cost of the ticket can also be paid, at the time of booking, by bank transfer, or via Pago PA (as soon as the service is available).

For bank transfers, the coordinates of the Authority's Treasury service can be used, available at the following link: https://www.iss.it/?p=188

The ticket purchased is non-refundable.

The bank transfer receipt must be shown to the staff in charge before the visit.

Accessibility

Disabled people equipped with walking devices and aids can access the Museum from Via del Castro Laurenziano n. 10, where a representative, after reporting, will accompany them for the visit. The museum is also accessible to visitors on "mobility scooters" and "electric wheelchairs". The Italian National Institute of Health does not have traditional wheel chairs to be assigned on request.

For the blind and visually impaired there is a tactile path equipped with Braille tables.

There are duly marked emergency exits on the Museum floor (Floor H).

To get to the museum there are elevators equipped with braille numbering on both internal and external buttons.

Animals are not allowed, even of small size. Guide dogs for blind people are an exception, provided they have a leash and muzzle. To facilitate reception and entry, the communication of the visit must be sent at least one day in advance to the email address: museo@iss.it .

How to reach us

The Museum is located inside the Italian National Institute of Health, Floor H, in Viale Regina Elena, 299, near the University of Rome "La Sapienza".

By car
The Italian National Institute of Health does not have a parking lot open to the public. In the surrounding streets you can find parking spaces in the blue stripes subject to the payment of an ordinary hourly rate (€ 1.00 per hour).

By train
From the Tiburtina railway station you can reach the Museum by going to the "Staz.ne Tiburtina (MB)" stop and taking lines 163 or 71 for 4 stops. Get off at the "Verano" stop. Continue on foot going up Viale Regina Elena for about 100 meters to the right until number 299.

From the Termini railway station you can reach the Museum with lines 71 , 492 and 310. Go to the "Turati / Fanti" stop and take line 71 (direction "Staz.ne Tiburtina (MB) for 7 stops. Get off at the" Verano "stop. Continue on foot going up Viale Regina Elena for about 100 meters on the right to the number 299. Go to the "Volturno" stop and take line 492 (direction "Staz.ne Tiburtina (MB) for 9 stops. Get off at the" Verano "stop. Continue on foot going up Viale Regina Elena for about 100 meters on the right to the number 299. Go to the "Termini" stop (Capolinea) and take line 310(direction Vescovio) for 5 stops. Get off at the "Università / Regina Elena" stop. continue on foot and at the crossroads turn right, continue for 450 meters downhill, cross at number 299.

By Metro
Line " A " get off at Termini take line " B " Line " B " get off at the "Policlinico" stop, walk towards Piazzale del Verano keeping left for about a kilometer, or take the tram towards "Verano" n. 3 ( towards Trastevere station (FS) or no. 19 (towards Gerani) and get off in front of the Italian National Institute of Health.

By Bus and Tram
Lines 3, 19, 71, 310, 163, 492

Contacts

Museum of the Italian National Institute of Health
Viale Regina Elena, 299
00161 ROME
mail: museo@iss.it
phone: (+39) 06 4990 6005
site: www.iss.it

Services to the public

Each visitor will have to enter the concierge at Viale Regina Elena, 299 and communicate to the attendant that he has a reservation to visit the Museum. Our supervisors will check the attendance and accompany the group to the museum. Outside the museum room there are lockers for the free storage of bags, backpacks and special cabinets for the storage of jackets and coats. There are also toilets for people with disabilities.

Rules for visitors 

To regulate access to the Museum, each visitor must deliver an identity document to the entrance of the Institute and will receive a badge that is required to be displayed visibly for the duration of the visit. The badge must be returned to the reception staff at the end of the visit.

Access to minors unaccompanied by parents or other adults responsible for them is not allowed. For the entire stay in the ISS premises, the visitor is covered by an RCT policy.

Since the Museum is housed in a workplace, visitors must comply with the provisions relating to safety regulations and that they are always accompanied by staff. The Visitor is particularly required:

  • to adopt civil behavior that respects the dignity of others
  • not to cause material damage to the structure and people, this behavior will be a reason for immediate removal 
  • to access with appropriate clothing while respecting the place and visitors
  • to access the Museum after depositing backpacks, umbrellas and any other bulky material in the appropriate lockers 
  • not to smoke (the use of electronic cigarettes is also prohibited) 
  • not to take food and drinks in the exhibition areas
  • mute the ringtone and audio of cell phones and other mobile devices 

In the case of school groups, teachers are responsible for the behavior of the students entrusted to them and it will be their task to obtain from the students conduct consistent with the prescriptions of these guidelines.

The Italian National Institute of Health is relieved of any responsibility for damages caused to people or things caused by the non-observance of these guidelines.

Safety rules 

As regards compliance with the provisions of Legislative Decree 81/2008, please refer to the specific behavioral protocol prepared by the Prevention and Protection of Workers Service of the Italian National Institute of Health.