Nature & natural history museums in Italy

The 17th century Villa Borghese Pinciana, built for Cardinal Scipione Borghese as his suburban manor, is located in the Borghese gardens. It houses the Borghese Gallery with a spectacular collection of renaissance and baroque paintings and sculptures by the most famous artists. You can admire the pa

The Milan Natural History Museum, founded in 1838, is housed in a 19th-century building located in the Indro Montanelli Garden, near the historic city gate of Porta Venezia. This location not only offers a rich historical context but also a serene environment for visitors to explore the museum's vast collections.

The Botanical Garden of the University of Siena, also known as Orto Botanico dell'Università di Siena, is a botanical garden that spans across 2.6 hectares. It is situated in the beautiful city of Siena, Italy. This garden is a part of the university and is a member of the Botanic Gardens Conservation International (BGCI).

The Aquarium of Genoa (Acquario di Genova) is the largest aquarium in Italy. The 3,100 sqm aquarium that includes 70 tanks containing a total of 6,000,000 liters is located in the old harbor area of Genoa. The tanks reproduce the habitat of numerous fish and reptiles. Highlights in the aquarium are

The Natural History Museum of the Academy of the Fisiocritici, also known as MUSNAF, is an integral part of the Academy. It is housed in the former convent of Santa Mustiola, a building that dates back to the 12th century and once belonged to the Camaldolese order. The museum has been located here since 1816, adding a layer of historical significance to its scientific collections.

The Pistoia Zoo, founded in 1970 by Raffaello Galardini, is one of the main zoological structures in Italy. It extends over about 14 hectares, although only 7 of these are currently open to the public. This provides a spacious environment for the animals and a vast area for visitors to explore.

Safari Ravenna is a safari park and zoo situated in Ravenna, Emilia-Romagna, Italy. It was established in 2012 near the Mirabilandia amusement park and spans an area of 340,000 m². This vast space is home to a variety of large mammals and birds, which can be observed from your own vehicle or through the park's vehicles.

The Natural History Museum of Venice, known in Italian as the Museo di Storia Naturale di Venezia, is a significant cultural institution in Venice, Italy. It was officially opened to the public in 1923, offering visitors a chance to explore a wide range of natural history exhibits.

The Diacinto Cestoni municipal aquarium is situated in Livorno, adjacent to the scenic seafront and Terrazza Mascagni. This location offers visitors a unique blend of natural beauty and cultural heritage, making it an ideal spot for those interested in marine life and Italian history.

Orvieto Underground is a fascinating network of tunnels, artificial cavities, and workspaces that lie beneath the city of Orvieto, in Umbria. This subterranean world was explored and documented by a group of local speleologists from the late 1970s onwards. Their efforts led to the rediscovery of more than 1200 artificial cavities, some of which were thoroughly studied in the early 1990s on behalf of the Umbria Region, which recognized their importance from both a historical and archaeological perspective.

The Trieste Marine Aquarium houses 25 tanks that recreate various marine environments. These tanks host predominantly Adriatic species, including cnidarians, annelids, mollusks, echinoderms, and crustaceans. This variety of marine life offers visitors a chance to learn about and appreciate the biodiversity of the Adriatic Sea.

Located in a majestic historical palace, this museum exhibits several private collections, originally owned by the city's nobilities. You can explore for example Italian fauna or prehistoric artifacts found in the area.

Discover the history of the Ladin region in this intriguing museum. Some of the artifacts such as fossils date back to prehistory.

The estate houses an educational center and museum that aims to introduce the region with its natural rarities and rich cultural heritage.

The Museo di Storia Naturale del Mediterraneo is situated in the city of Livorno, not far from another significant cultural site, the Museo civico Giovanni Fattori. This location makes it convenient for tourists who are interested in exploring multiple museums in a single trip.

The Museo civico di storia naturale in Milan (Museum of Natural History in Milan) is one of the most important natural history museums in Italy. The museum contains 23 exhibition rooms on two levels with a total exhibition area of 5,500 m². About 100 dioramas show scenes of fauna and flora in variou

The place where the Italian revolutionary spent his last days is nowadays a museum of both history and nature.

The place where the Italian revolutionary spent his last days is nowadays a museum of both history and nature.

La Specola - Museum of Zoology and Natural History is a natural history museum in Florence. The name is a reference to the astronomical observatory founded here in 1790. The museum's collection is based on the Medici Natural History Collection and is best known for its collection of anatomical wax m

The Museo del Mare e acquario Città di Piombino is situated in the heart of Piombino, in piazza Bovio. The museum is housed in the historic Palazzo Appiani, which was once the residence of the Lords of Piombino. This location not only provides a unique setting for the museum but also adds a layer of historical significance to your visit.

The Museo Ornitologico di Mazara del Vallo is a municipal-owned museum that specializes in ornithology and taxidermy. It boasts a collection of over 500 species of birds and a selection of mammals. This extensive collection provides a unique opportunity for visitors to learn about a wide variety of bird species and some mammals in one place.

The exhibits at the Museo di Scienze Planetarie trace the evolutionary history of the Universe, from its inception to the formation of the Solar System. Visitors can view a representation of the Milky Way and a scale model of the planets, which are accompanied by images and explanatory films. This visual and interactive approach provides a comprehensive and engaging exploration of our cosmic history.

Esapolis is an insectarium situated in Padua, Italy. It was established through a collaboration between the Province of Padua and Butterfly Arc, a private initiative. This partnership has resulted in the creation of the largest exhibition structure in Italy dedicated to insects, making it a unique destination for those interested in entomology and the natural world.

Explore the fossils from the area of St. Kassian and learn all about the extinct cave bear! You can also see the sleeping replica of it.

The Alpenfaunamuseum Beck Peccoz is an ethological museum that is situated near the town of Gressoney-Saint-Jean. It is nestled in the heart of the Lys Valley, which is part of the Aosta Valley. This location offers a unique blend of natural beauty and cultural heritage, making it an interesting destination for tourists.

The Casa Rossa Ximenes Multimedia Museum serves as the visitor center for the Diaccia Botrona nature reserve in Castiglione della Pescaia. This unique building was designed and built by engineer and mathematician Leonardo Ximenes in 1765, during the reclamation of the Maremma Grossetana, commissioned by the Grand Duke of Tuscany Pietro Leopoldo di Lorena. The complex was tasked with controlling the flow of water between the vast marshy area of Lake Castiglione and the Tyrrhenian Sea, as it was believed that malaria was due to the miasmas exhaled by the unhealthy mixing of swamp water with sea water.

The Museo Paleontologico Scienza della Terra del Gamps in Scandicci, which opened in 2001, is home to a collection of minerals and a wide range of fossil specimens from the soils of Tuscany. These specimens provide a glimpse into the rich biodiversity that characterized this region during the Pliocene era.

The Museo Civico Goffredo Bellini, situated in Asola in the province of Mantova, is a historical treasure house. The collection, donated by the Asolan collector Goffredo Bellini (1870-1947), provides a comprehensive view of history spanning from prehistoric times to the 20th century. The museum's exhibits are organized chronologically and thematically, making it easy for visitors to navigate through the millennia of history.

The Bioparco is a 17-hectare large municipal zoo in Rome which feels like a safari, as there are no fences/bars in many parts of the Bioparco Zoo. The Zoo is home to over a 1,000 animals from more than 200 species. Its two newest exhibits can be considered as main attractions: the orangutan expositi

The Acquario di Cala Gonone is a modern facility dedicated to showcasing aquatic fauna. It is situated in the picturesque Gulf of Orosei, in Sardinia. This location not only provides a stunning backdrop for the aquarium but also allows visitors to immerse themselves in the natural beauty of the region while exploring the diverse marine life.

Infini.to, the Planetarium and Museum of Astronomy and Space, is situated in Pino Torinese, on the hill of Turin. It is conveniently located next to the Astronomical Observatory, an ancient scientific institution in Turin. This location offers a unique opportunity for visitors to explore the wonders of the universe and the history of astronomy in one place.

Lo Speleovivarium is a unique museum and bio-speleology laboratory situated in the San Vito district of Trieste. It is located at the base of the staircase that splits Guido Reni street into two parts. This location offers a unique blend of history, science, and natural beauty, making it an interesting destination for tourists visiting Trieste.

The Villa Pignatelli is a museum in Naples that is located along the Riviera di Chiaia that was built as a neo-classical residence that would be the centerpiece of a park for Ferdinand Acton in 1826. The villa now houses a coach museum and a collection of French and English vehicles from the 18th an

The Zoo di Napoli (Zoo of Naples, Naples Zoo) is a zoo in Naples founded by Franco Cuneo and Angelo Lombardi in 1940 that spans an area of over 100,000 square meters. The zoo is home to many species of animals, including endangered species, such as the Neapolitan goats (capre napoletane).

The Museo archeologico del territorio di Suasa is housed in the Della Rovere palace in San Lorenzo in Campo. This location adds a touch of historical grandeur to the museum, making it a unique destination for those interested in both history and architecture.

Museo Civico di Storia Naturale Giacomo Doria (The Natural History Museum Giacomo Doria) is the natural history museum of Genoa. The collection includes nearly 4 million pieces from zoological, botanical and geological collections, with a special focus on animals, especially mammals and animals of t

Arte Sella is an international contemporary art exhibition that was initiated in 1986. It is held outdoors in the meadows and forests of Val di Sella, located in the municipality of Borgo Valsugana in the province of Trento. This unique setting allows visitors to experience art in a natural environment, providing a distinctive blend of culture and nature.

Palazzo Spada is a structure in Rome that was built in the mid-16th century for Cardinal Girolamo Capodiffero. It was rebuilt by Francesco Borromini when the building was sold in 1631 to Cardinal Bernardino Spada. The building served for the art collection of the Spada Family. Nowadays, the Galleria

The Acquario Civico di Milano (Civic Aquarium of Milan) is the third oldest aquarium in Europe. It is located in the Sempione Park, between the Civic Arena and the Sforzesco Castle. It is the only surviving building from the Milan International, built in 1906. The aquarium focuses on showing fishes

Museo Nazionale della Montagna (The National Museum of the Mountain "Duca degli Abruzzi") is a museum in Turin is located in Turin, near the church and the convent of Monte dei Cappuccini, from which you have a panoramic view of the Alps and the city. The building that houses the museum started out

The museum's collection includes ancient artifacts from the city dating back to the Oscan period, artifacts from the Jewish community, and the more than 600,000-year-old remains from the Notarchirico site. Among these remains is the oldest femur of a Homo erectus found in Europe. These exhibits provide a comprehensive overview of the region's rich history and cultural heritage.

University of Florence Natural History Museum - Geology and Paleontology is the part of the University of Florence Natural History Museum that holds around 200,000 specimens from the collections of noted geologists and paleontologists. A highlight in the museum is the vertebrate fossil collection (2

The Museum of Zoology was founded in the second half of the 19th century by Prof. Pietro Doderlein, from whom it inherited the name and vision. The building still preserves the original structure and furniture, which immediately make visitors feel the atmosphere of old times. A nineteenth-century a

The Natural History Museum of Pavia is located within the historic Palazzo Botta Adorno. The museum is divided into three sections: zoology, geopaleontology, and comparative anatomy. Each section offers a unique insight into the natural world, with a wide range of exhibits and collections to explore.

The Turin Museum of Natural History (Museo Regionale di Scienze Naturali di Torino, MRSN) is a museum in Turin that holds the natural history collections of the University of Turin and other collections related to natural history. The museum is housed in the former hospital of San Giovanni Battista,

The Civic Museum of Natural History is currently housed in Palazzo Biserini, located in the Borgo Giuseppino district of Trieste. This location is central and easily accessible, making it a convenient stop for tourists exploring the city. The museum shares the building with other public facilities such as the Attilio Hortis City Library and the Petrarchesco Piccolomineo Museum.

A modern zoo with lots of facilities. Focused on felines, the zoo also has many other animals to see.

The Museum of Casal de 'Pazzi is a museum that focuses on archaeological, geological and paleontological related objects. The museum covers part of a Pleistocene deposit of fluvial origin. The deposit extended over an area of ​​about 1200 m² and consisted of sand and gravel, mostly volcanic. The dep

Museo Civico di Zoologia is a natural history museum in Rome that specializes in fauna and its evolution throughout history. Its collections include conches, several insects, and over 290 artifacts from mammals, some of which are today extinct. Highlights in the museum include the skeleton of a comm

Museo Di Anatomia Comparata is a museum in Bologna that houses a comparative anatomy collection, which, as a whole, is made up of over 9,000 pieces that make it, in its genre, one of the best known internationally both for its size and for the rarity of the objects. Currently about 2,500 exhibits ar

Museo di Mineralogia Luigi Bombicci (The "L. Bombicci" mineralogy museum) is part of the University Museum System of the University of Bologna. This museum is named after a professor, head of the Mineralogy Department at the university. It contains about 10,000 minerals and stones.

The Baratti and Populonia Archaeological Park is situated in the municipality of Piombino. It spans approximately 80 hectares, stretching from the slopes of the Piombino promontory to the coast on the Gulf of Baratti. This expansive park offers a unique blend of natural beauty and historical significance, making it an ideal destination for those interested in both nature and archaeology.

The Museo Fiorentino di Preistoria Paolo Graziosi (The Florentine Museum of Prehistory "Paolo Graziosi") is a museum in Florence that is housed in the former convent of the Oblate Sisters (Complesso delle Oblate). The museum features two large halls, with numerous finds exhibited in chronological or

The Astronomical Observatory of Capodimonte is an observatory of the Istituto Nazionale di Astrofisica of Italy. It is located on the Capodimonte, a hill in Naples. The observatory contains a 40-cm Ritchey-Chretien telescope, a meridian circle, a functioning historical refractor dating from 1864, a

The Anton Dohrn Zoological Station (Stazione zoologica Anton Dohrn) in Naples is a scientific institution and research institution in Naples. It includes the oldest aquarium in Italy. The institution comprises the aquarium, the herbarium, the historical archive, the library and the zoological collec

Museo di Antropologia, Collezione di Antropologia is the Anthropology museum in Bologna. The museum holds a collection that includes skulls and skeletons from the Neolithic era to the 18th century; plaster casts of the remains of the skeletons of primates and the Primitive Man illustrating the fund

Housed in a modern building, this center introduces the Puez-Odle Nature Park. Familiarize yourself with its flora, fauna and geology here.

The Palazzo Bracci Pagani is a monumental building of historical and artistic interest, dating back to between the 16th and 19th centuries. It is situated in the historic center of Fano, nestled between Via Arco d'Augusto and Corso Matteotti, where the entrance to the building can be found. The Palazzo is a testament to the rich history and culture of the region, and its strategic location makes it easily accessible for visitors.

Founded in 1545 by Cosimo I de' Medici and designed by Niccolò Pericoli, an Italian Mannerist artist, the Giarino dei Semplici is the third oldest botanical garden in Europe. Originally, only medicinal plants were grown here, but the garden was enlargened in the 18th century (during the reign of Cos

Located directly behind the Pitti Palace, the Boboli Gardens are a fascinating open-air museum with a collection of sculptures ranging from the 16th to 18th centuries. The gardens were designed for Eleonora di Toledo, the wife of Cosimo I de' Medici, who chose the Pitti Palace as their new residence

The Orto Botanico dell'Università di Roma "La Sapienza", also Orto Botanico di Roma, is a botanical garden that was created in 1883 as the successor to the Renaissance papal botanical gardens. It is located on the hillside of Gianicolo Hill, overlooking the 17th-century Palazzo Corsini, where Queen

The Museum of Paleontology of Naples is a museum in Naples in Italy that is housed in the Cloister of Saints Marcellino and Festo. The museum exhibits several collections: fish fossils, mammal fossils, plant fossils and fossils of reptiles.

Opera Bosco Museo di Arte nella Natura is an experimental open-air contemporary art museum. It was founded by artist Anne Demijttenaere in collaboration with Costantino Morosin. This unique museum offers a different perspective on art, where the natural environment becomes an integral part of the artwork.

The Parc Animalier d'Introd is an Italian animal park located in the scenic Aosta Valley. It was established with the aim of promoting tourism in the local community. The park is home to a variety of alpine animals and plants, making it a great destination for nature lovers.

The Museo di Zoologia di Catania, along with the attached 'Butterfly House', is part of the University Museum System (SiMuA) of the University of Catania. This integration allows the museum to benefit from the resources and expertise of the university, enhancing its offerings and the overall visitor experience.

The Museo Nazionale dell'Antartide Felice Ippolito (National Museum of Antarctica Felice Ippolito, MNA) is a natural science museum in Genoa that has 2 related museum in Siena and Trieste. The museum was founded in 1996 and is named after the geologist and engineer Felice Ippolito (1915-1997). The m

The Adolfo Klitsche De La Grange Archaeological and Naturalistic Museum is a unique institution that showcases a variety of naturalistic materials and archaeological artifacts. These items have been collected from various archaeological campaigns conducted within the municipal territory. The museum provides a fascinating insight into the natural and historical heritage of the region.

The Giardino Botanico Daniela Brescia is a botanical garden situated in Sant'Eufemia a Maiella, Italy. It spans an impressive area of 43000 m², offering ample space for visitors to explore and enjoy the diverse plant life. The garden's location in the heart of Italy makes it easily accessible for tourists from all over the country and beyond.

The Federico Eusebio Civic Museum of Archaeology and Natural Sciences is a museum situated in the city of Alba, in the province of Cuneo. This location makes it easily accessible for tourists visiting the region.