Museo Della Tortura

About

Medieval and criminal Torture Museum of San Gimignano: "A collection of instruments of torture" This exhibit includes images and words, a unique world-wide collection: 100 instruments produced for causing pain and death. It shows exceptionally rare pieces dated back to the XVI, XVII and XVIII century and more recent philological reconstructions of ancient and lost instruments. Very well known instruments such as the Iron Maiden, the Guillotine, the Rack, the Interrogation Chair and the Chastity Belt. But the peculiarity of the exhibit is showing to the public for the very first time less known but very refined instruments. From the Heretic’s Fork to the Noise-maker’s fifes, to the Gatta da Scorticamento to the Spanish Spiders, these instruments prove how human imagination and sophisticated intelligence had no limit in finding new ways to inflict the most atrocious and cruel tortures. One section of museum is entirely dedicated to witchcraf, witches hunt and to the Inquisition Tribunal.

At a glance

• Typical visit: about 30 minutes