Infirmus fui et visitastis me. Percorsi, modelli e spazi dell’assistenza medievale

In the 4th century, with the spread of Christianity, a new form of assistance for the poor and sick emerged, consisting of xenodochia and hospitalia. Unlike the ancient world, where care was provided at home and privately, multifunctional structures arose to address various needs of marginalized individuals. Primary information comes from monastic sources, which discuss the creation of infirmaries and the commitment to the weaker brethren. The Plan of St. Gall and comments on the Benedictine Rule provide insights into the spaces and functions of such institutions. Between the 12th and 13th centuries, hospitalia took on greater specialization towards the destitute and sick, while canonical laws limited medical practice to clerics and religious members. The birth of the “large hospitals” at the end of the Middle Ages (Siena, Florence, Padua, Brescia, Milan, etc.) marks the secularization of hospital care, still with a focus on the poor, while a full health revolution would not come until the 18th century.