Complex sentence: It has also been the continent's most famous and, indeed, infamous specialist institution for the care and control of the insane and its popular designation-- "Bedlam"--has long been synonymous with madness.
Split into simpler sentences: It has also been the continent's most famous, and infamous, specialist institution for the care and treatment of the insane. It's popular designation-- "Bedlam"--has long been synonymous with madness.