Mateureka – Museo del Calcolo

About the museum

Mateureka is the calculation museum of Pennabilli, in the hinterland of Rimini. It occupies the four floors of the former town hall, overlooking Piazza Garibaldi, and preserves the memory of the inventions and ideas that have shaped the history of calculation and mathematics. The museum was founded on the initiative of its founder Renzo Baldoni, an enthusiast of mathematics and computing, and in 2026 it celebrates its twentieth anniversary.

The route is divided into three parts. The historical section presents archaeological finds and calculating tools from every age, from the cuneiform foundation cone and the Sumerian tablets to abaci, Andean quipus, the texts of Luca Pacioli and Napier's bones. The machines section displays ancient mechanical calculators, from a reconstruction of the Pascaline to the arithmometer, and on to the Curta of 1950 and the first electronic calculators.

The workshop rooms let visitors experience concepts such as infinity, zero, fractals, the golden ratio and Escher's drawings through play and hands-on activity; the workshop “Lampi di genio” offers around thirty interactive exhibits. The visit also includes the Museo di Informatica, dedicated to the history of computers. The museum is recognised as one of the five most authoritative museums in Europe devoted to mathematics.

Highlights

• Cuneiform foundation cone from 2200 BC and Sumerian tablets
• Collection of mechanical calculators, from the Pascaline to the Curta
• Workshop rooms on infinity, fractals, the golden ratio and Escher
• Interactive workshop “Lampi di genio” with around 30 exhibits
• Museo di Informatica included in the guided visit

Permanent exhibition

• Collezione di storia del calcolo, macchine e sale laboratorio – Calculating tools from antiquity to the present day, mechanical and electromechanical calculators and interactive rooms devoted to fundamental mathematical concepts.

Visitors per year

approx. 9,800

Admission & discounts

Rates include admission and the guided visit. Payment can be made on arrival or by bank transfer with electronic invoicing.

Accessibility

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Family tours & workshops
• Hands-on stations

The workshop rooms and the workshop “Lampi di genio” let visitors experience mathematics through play; for schools, the visit is recommended from the fourth year of primary school.

Getting there & parking

The museum is in the historic centre of Pennabilli, at Piazza Garibaldi 47. To plan your arrival you can contact the museum.

Amenities & dining

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Events & venue rental

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Plan your visit