Housed in the 1308 Ilkhanid Darüşşifa — one of the world's oldest psychiatric institutions — this museum illustrates medieval medical practice including the music therapy used to treat patients in 14th-century Anatolia.
The Sabuncuoğlu Şerefeddin Museum of History of Medicine occupies the 1308 Darüşşifa in Amasya's old town, one of the earliest institutions in the world established specifically for the treatment of psychiatric disorders. Built under the Ilkhanid ruler Öljaitü, the Darüşşifa — meaning 'house of healing' — was designed around a central courtyard with an open pool and a garden, a deliberate therapeutic environment intended to calm patients through the sounds of water and live music. The 15th-century physician and writer Sabuncuoğlu Şerefeddin, who worked at the institution and produced the illustrated surgical atlas Cerrahiyyetü'l-Haniyye — the first illustrated surgical treatise in the Turkish language — gives the museum its name. The building is a two-storey structure of ashlar masonry arranged around a rectangular colonnaded courtyard. The ground-floor cells served as treatment rooms; the upper level housed administrative and residential functions. Inside the museum, displays cover the history of the Darüşşifa, the practice of music therapy as documented in historical sources, the career of Sabuncuoğlu Şerefeddin, and the broader tradition of Islamic medicine in medieval Anatolia. Replica surgical instruments, facsimile manuscript pages, and interpretive panels in Turkish and English fill the rooms. The building itself, with its carved stone portal and intact courtyard, is as historically compelling as the exhibits it contains. Visits typically take 45 to 60 minutes and can be combined with the Torumtay Tomb and Gök Medrese Camii in a single old-town walking circuit.
Highlights
- One of the world's earliest dedicated psychiatric treatment institutions, founded 1308
- Named for 15th-century physician Sabuncuoğlu Şerefeddin, author of the first illustrated Turkish surgical atlas
- Intact Ilkhanid courtyard with a therapeutic pool and colonnaded garden design
- Displays on music therapy, Islamic medicine, and medieval Anatolian medical practice
- Outstanding carved stone Ilkhanid entrance portal
Tips for visiting
- Combine with the Torumtay Tomb and Gök Medrese Camii just metres away for a full old-town walk
- Labels are in Turkish and English — the main panels on music therapy are particularly detailed
- Allow 45–60 minutes to read the exhibits carefully; the surgical atlas facsimiles reward attention
- The courtyard photographs well in morning light
- The Müzekart may cover admission — confirm at the entrance
When to visit
Morning (09:00–11:00) offers the best courtyard light and the fewest visitors. The museum is a good indoor option during the hottest summer hours.
Accessibility
The ground floor and courtyard of the museum are accessible. Some upper-floor areas involve steps; wheelchair users should confirm accessible routes on arrival.
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Frequently asked questions
What is the connection between the Bimarhane building and this museum?
The museum occupies the original Bimarhane (Darüşşifa) of 1308. The two names refer to the same building — the museum is named after Sabuncuoğlu Şerefeddin, the most famous physician associated with the institution.
How long does a visit take?
45 to 60 minutes is typical. Those interested in the history of medicine or the manuscript facsimiles may wish to allow 1.5 hours.
Is photography allowed?
Photography is generally permitted throughout the building and courtyard. Flash photography near fragile manuscript displays may be restricted.
Is it worth visiting if time is limited?
Yes — the building itself is architecturally significant, and the history of music therapy as psychiatric treatment is unusual and engaging. It can be visited in under an hour.