The Santo Spirito in Saxia Hospital is the oldest hospital in Europe. It was founded in 727 as a building intended to host, assist, and care for pilgrims arriving in Rome to visit the tomb of Saint Peter. Later, it also began to assist the poor, the sick, and abandoned children, as evidenced by the presence of the “Wheel of the Exposed”, still visible outside the building. In 1198, it was rebuilt by Pope Innocent III and officially designated as a hospital.

The structure houses an immense wealth of beauty and cultural, academic, and museum resources: the Lancisian Library, the National Historical Museum of Healthcare Art, the Lancisian Academy,, theSistine Wards, the Cloisters of the Friars, the Nuns, and the Maidens (o Cloister of the Well) and the Palace of the Commendatore, a 16th-century extension designed by the architect Giovanni Lippi.

Since 2000, the monumental complex has been one of the main congress centers in the capital. Events, conferences, and art exhibitions are regularly held within its spaces. Additionally, the Santo Spirito in Saxia complex is a member of the Historic Conference Centres of Europe and a supporting member of the Healthcare Convention and Exhibitors Association. It has also become an important museum hub for guided tours.