Museum of Torture — Attraction in San Gimignano

A very interesting collection of torture instruments combined with detailed descriptions of torture methods throughout history. The ticket is combined with the museum of death penalty, which is about 500 meters further down the road. Both museums are in medieval buildings with bare stone walls. The light is dim, and only the display cases are illuminated, which generate a rather spooky atmosphere. One should the take time to read all panels, since they provide a lot of information. A number of wax figures and old stitches show how certain tortures were executed and give a pretty gruesome picture of the consequences for the victims. It is surprising that some (naive?) parents drag their little ones through this museum. This is definitely not for the...

It feels wrong to say I liked this place, because it made me extremely sad and depressed to think that humans do this to other humans. However, I think a museum like this brings to life how valuable the ability to freely express ones thoughts really is. Many of the devices were used by one entity that couldn't stomach anyone questioning it. Sadly, we are almost back to that point, but with a different entity trying to shut down our speech and ideas.

Visit this place and you will feel compelled to make sure nobody ever gets this kind of...

During my trip to San Gimignano I visited the Museum of Torture located near the heart of the old town. The exhibits are intense and shocking but historically informative. You will see original and replica instruments that illustrate how brutal justice once was. While the space is not too large, the museum is well curated with multilingual descriptions. Not for the faint-hearted, but definitely a unique and eye-opening stop that adds depth to the cultural experience of the city. I would recommend it if you are interested in history or...