The name Florence Nightingale is known throughout the world. The founder of modern nursing, a reformer of medicine and a symbol of mercy, she left behind a huge historical legacy. Today, her memory is carefully preserved in museums, memorials, hospitals and historic houses in various countries.

Many travelers interested in the history of Florence Nightingale seek to visit the places where she lived and worked, and where you can still feel the atmosphere of an era that changed the history of medicine.

Florence Nightingale Museum in London

One of the main places dedicated to her life is the Florence Nightingale Museum.

The museum's exhibition features objects, documents and personal items that tell the story of key events in her life, from her youth to her legendary work during the Crimean War.

Some of the museum's exhibits have been kindly provided by the owners of the historic Florence Nightingale Suites. Thanks to this, guests of the apartments can literally touch history and see items related to the life of the famous nurse.

The Nightingale family homes

Florence Nightingale grew up in two family homes:

• Embley Park — the family residence in Hampshire. Today it is a school.
• Lea Hurst — a house in picturesque Derbyshire, where Florence spent part of her life.

It is at Lea Hurst that the historic Florence Nightingale Suites are located today. This is one of the few places where you can not only learn about Nightingale, but also literally live in her family home.

Guests can stroll through the garden, see the historic interiors and even stay in a room associated with Florence. For those interested in the history of Florence Nightingale, this is a unique opportunity to experience the atmosphere of her time.

Her final resting place

Despite her worldwide fame, Florence Nightingale wanted a modest funeral. Her family declined the offer to bury her in Westminster Abbey.
She was buried in the cemetery of St Margaret's Church, East Wellow, near Embley Park.

Her memorial bears only her initials and dates of birth and death — a simple reminder of a person whose work changed healthcare around the world.

Florence Nightingale monuments

There are several monuments in the UK dedicated to this remarkable woman.

One of the most famous is the statue in Waterloo Place in Westminster.

There are also several monuments to Nightingale in the city of Derby:
•    near Derbyshire Royal Infirmary
•    on St Peter's Street
•    at the Nightingale-Macmillan Care Unit.

In addition, Derby Cathedral has a plaque dedicated to Florence Nightingale. Every year, a service is held here in her honour.

Memories of Nightingale in Istanbul

Istanbul holds a special place in Florence Nightingale's biography, as it was where she worked during the Crimean War.

Today, the Selimiye Barracks house the Florence Nightingale Museum. Its rooms contain relics and historical materials related to the work of Nightingale and her nurses during the war.

Several hospitals in Istanbul also bear her name, continuing the medical tradition inspired by her ideas.