Temple of Minerva Medica
A striking neoclassical building nestled in a small forest in Montefoscoli
In a small forest of holm oaks in Montefoscoli, near Palaia at about 40 km from downtown Pisa, the Temple of Minerva Medica is located. This big-sized building in neoclassical style was built at the behest of Andrea Vaccà Berlinghieri, a distinguished doctor at the University of Pisa, between 1821 and 1823, to celebrate the memory of his father Francis. The temple is dedicated to Minerva Medica, goddess of Medicine and Wisdom.
The distinctive structure was built by architect Ridolfo Castinelli entirely of brick, except for the white marble lintel; it is accessed by a wide stone staircase with a portico of eight Ionic-style columns formed by large terracotta disks. A large vestibule can be seen inside, opening onto a vast semicircular hall, with some rooms on the upper floor.
Many are the stories linked to the Temple Minerva: among these there’s one that points to it as a Masonic venue, whereas another story links it to the birth of the novel Frankenstein by Mary Shelley. In particular, according to some theories, the English writer took inspiration precisely from Vaccà Berlinghieri for her book, who had studied galvanism, which is the stimulation of human cadaver muscles by electric current.
