ZRS Koper to co-create the santorio year programme

The Municipality of Koper officially launched the year of Santorio Santorio (1561–1636), the renowned physician, inventor, and scientist from Koper, with a press conference held at Mala Loža. The project, which brings together numerous cultural, research, educational, and social institutions in the city, was initiated by Dr Primož Krečič. As part of the Santorio year programme, ZRS Koper will also contribute a range of activities and content.

Santorio Santorio was a pioneer of the scientific approach in medicine and played an important role in introducing quantitative methods into the study of the human body. Through his groundbreaking work De medicina statica and his innovative measuring instruments, he laid the foundations for the modern understanding of metabolism and bodily functions.

Opening of two exhibitions and guided thematic tours

Following the press conference, two exhibitions were officially opened. Peter Štoka from the Srečko Vilhar Central Library Koper guided attendees through the exhibition In the Footsteps of Santorio Santorio in Koper, which will be on display at Mala Loža until 28 April.

At the same time, the outdoor exhibition Santorio Santorio and Koper was opened throughout the historic city centre and will remain on display until the end of autumn. The exhibition leads visitors through key locations connected with Santorio’s life and work.

The opening programme of the Santorio Year will continue on Sunday, 29 March, marking the birthday of Santorio Santorio, with a free guided thematic walk. The tour will be led by Peter Štoka and Tadej Sušelj, who will guide visitors through the city locations featured in the exhibition. Similar guided walks will continue throughout the year.

Activities of ZRS Koper

Through its Institute for Kinesiology Research and the Mediterranean Health Centre, ZRS Koper will prepare the Santorio health package, through which participants will learn about the importance of monitoring body weight and body composition. Workshops for children, including demonstrations of measurement techniques, will also be organized.

At the same time, ZRS Koper will begin hosting established researchers within the framework of the Santorio Residential Fellowship, organized by the Institute for Historical Studies ZRS Koper and the Centre for the Study of Medicine and the Body in the Renaissance (CSMBR). In April, historian Dr Johann Petitjean from Poitiers will visit Koper and deliver several public lectures on the history of public health within the Republic of Venice in the Adriatic region. A lecture on Santorio Santorio and his work will also be delivered by Dr Fabrizio Bigotti, research associate at the Institute for Historical Studies ZRS Koper and one of the leading experts on Santorio’s work, specializing in the history of science.

Through project applications, ZRS Koper will also seek to establish further research connected with Santorio, in cooperation with other institutions involved in the Santorio year programme.

The Santorio year 2026 thus establishes a comprehensive framework for reviving the rich scientific and cultural heritage of Koper and highlights the importance of Santorio Santorio as one of the key figures in the history of medicine.

Photos: Municipality of Koper