Dino Scalabrino

Dino Scalabrino was born on May 31, 1908 in Montecatini, where his father Alberto, who was among the founders of the Emergency Department, had moved after winning the competition to become a medical practitioner. The family is of Sicilian origin.

From the end of the 1940s to 1974 (the year of his death), in the dual role of medical director of the spa and director of the autonomous health and accommodation company, he was the protagonist of that unrepeatable period that saw Montecatini in the maximum splendor of spa tourism, when the kings and Hollywood stars remembered on the Walk of Fame stayed in the city, among others.

His "climb" to the helm of the Montecatini tourist-spa began just after the harsh experience of the war. He had barely survived on the Russian front, where he had participated as an Alpine reserve officer with the Julia division, earning a war merit cross and a solemn commendation on the Postojali field. He had spent his convalescence in the military hospital set up at the Locanda Maggiore.

At the Spa he was approached by his father Alberto, when he was still a student in Bologna, who introduced him to Professor Mariano Messini at the Montecatini research institute, established in 1931 on the proposal of Professor Frugoni, and then directed by the general pathologist of Milan, academician P. Rondoni.

Dino Scalabrino carried out various research on the effects of thermal waters at the study center, first as an internal student and, after 1934, as a doctor.

In 1948 Professor Scalabrino was appointed health director of the spa, a position that had previously been held by other illustrious clinicians: Fedeli, Grocco, Queirolo, Frugoni, Messini.

A position that was subsequently held by his son Alberto.

He was also a member of the board of directors of the Spa company from 1958 to 1967.

These were the golden years of spa tourism, characterized by the congresses of the Chamber of Physicians of Germany and Austria - these were scientific congresses of international importance due to the presence of Nobel Prize winners such as Daniel Bovet or medical figures such as Pietro Valdoni, Cesare Frugoni, Nicola Pende and finally world-famous hydrologists, which would continue for decades.

Scalabrino published about fifty works on medicine and hydrology with particular attention to the therapeutic applications of salt-sulphate-alkaline waters.

From 1960, as president of the Health Authority, established on 25 April 1929, Scalabrino focused on high-level tourism and created the philatelic event Europa a Montecatini, capable of attracting enthusiasts from all over the continent.

He established relationships with the cities of the French Riviera and this twinning will make Montecatini one of the favorite places of the world jet-set.

It is no coincidence that Grace and Ranieri of Monaco arrive to "pass the waters", even the first time on their honeymoon and before arriving at the Vatican where they will be received by the Pope.

The kings and princes of Sweden, Denmark, Holland, Luxembourg and King Ibn Saud with his court from the Arabian Nights gathered at the Tettuccio spa for treatment.

The Shah of Persia also arrives, who entrusts the hope of his recovery from a serious illness to the water treatments.

Montecatini also hosts the Dukes of Windsor, Rose Kennedy and for all these guests of immense importance the constant and continuous reference was him, Professor Scalabrino.

His name is also linked to the Academy of Art - named after him on June 24, 1974 - which had its first headquarters in 1964 in La Fortuna, then in Villa Perrotta and finally in Villa delle Ortensie from October 29, 1970.

The museum, with valuable works by famous artists who were friends of Scalabrino, was also visited by the Prime Ministers Emilio Colombo and Giulio Andreotti.

He died on April 15, 1974 in his villa on Via Magenta, after having been at his workplace until the last moment.

A few days earlier, he had led the meeting of the members of the Academy of Art and had carried out an inspection of the work in progress for the expansion of the basement. On the same day, he had received clients in his medical office and had been to the Palazzina Regia (link to file), then the headquarters of the Management of the Spa.