MUSE – Museo delle Scienze

About the museum

The MUSE is the heir of the Museo Civico di Trento, founded in 1846 and later transformed into the Museo tridentino di scienze naturali, established in 1964 and linked to the Autonomous Province of Trento. From 1982 the museum was housed in Palazzo Sardagna, where it remained until 2013.

In 2006 the Province approved the project for a new building on the site of the former Michelin factory, in the Le Albere district, next to Palazzo delle Albere. The building was designed by Renzo Piano, has six levels (two underground and four above ground) around a large central void and is LEED Gold certified. The museum opened in July 2013 under the name MUSE – Museo delle Scienze.

The exhibition route follows the metaphor of the mountain: from the terrace and the fourth floor, with the glacier and polar research, one descends through Alpine biodiversity, the geology of the Dolomites and prehistory to the basement with the aquariums and the greenhouse of the montane tropical forest of the Udzungwa mountains in Tanzania. Alongside the traditional approach of natural history museums, MUSE uses interactive exhibits typical of science centres. The museum also houses scientific collections and research laboratories and is the reference point for a network of sites across Trentino, including Palazzo delle Albere, the Museo delle Palafitte del Lago di Ledro and the Museo Geologico delle Dolomiti in Predazzo.

Highlights

• Renzo Piano building with the Big Void and the suspended rorqual whale
• Glacier and Alpine environments on the upper floors
• Geology of the Dolomites and section on Neanderthals and Sapiens
• Greenhouse of the montane tropical forest of the Udzungwa mountains and large aquariums
• Maxi Ooh!, Discovery Room and Palestra della scienza for children
• Biodiversity gardens and biotope, free admission

Permanent exhibitions

• Percorso espositivo: sei piani di meraviglia – From the Big Void and the terrace to the floors with the glacier, Alpine biodiversity, Dolomite geology, prehistory, sustainability and FabLab, and on to the large aquariums and the montane tropical forest.
• Maxi Ooh! – Sensory space for children aged 0 to 5, who discover forest life, the seasons and the rhythm of day and night together with an adult.
• Orti della biodiversità e biotopo – Free outdoor spaces with aromatic plants, plant varieties, insect hotels and a wetland area with plants, amphibians and birds.

Founded

2013

Operated by

Provincia autonoma di Trento

Director

Massimo Bernardi

Admission & discounts

Free admission: First Sunday of the month (“Domenica al museo”); 2026 dates still scheduled: 1 November and 6 December.

Admission on the chosen date and time slot is guaranteed only by buying the ticket online; the on-site ticket office may have no places available. Free admission also for accredited journalists, ICOM members, holders of MyMUSE membership, teachers and accompanying adults of school groups, and cultural heritage professionals with a Ministry card. Museum Pass and Verona Card: free admission. Bonus Cultura: €9. The biodiversity gardens and the biotope have free admission.

Accessibility

• Wheelchair accessible
• Elevator: no information
• Accessible restroom: no information
• Accessible parking
• Service dogs welcome
• Tactile models & exhibits
• Sign language tours
• Easy-to-read materials
• Audio description: no information

The museum declares itself free of architectural barriers. Wheelchairs are available free of charge (book on 0461 270391), together with a tactile model of the museum and tactile maps, a quiet space, and guides in easy-to-read language (ETR) and in AAC. Guided tours with a LIS interpreter take place on the first Saturday and third Tuesday of the month. Animals are admitted only if they are guide dogs (with certificate); a dog-minding service is available. The museum has received the OPEN mark of the Autonomous Province of Trento.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Family tours & workshops
• Activity booklet, scavenger hunt or kids’ audio guide
• Hands-on stations
• Stroller-friendly
• Baby changing facilities
• Playground / play area
• Kids’ birthday parties

Maxi Ooh! is a sensory space for children aged 0 to 5 with an adult; the Discovery Room and the Palestra della scienza offer games and hands-on experiences. Workshops and events for families are planned (FunLab, Nanna al MUSE, Museo con lo zainetto), along with the Passaporto dell'esplorazione (exploration passport) with the Family & Friends membership and the birthday party “Un compleanno bestiale”. The museum offers changing tables, baby carriers, pushchairs and water dispensers; breastfeeding is allowed everywhere, and there are two reserved spaces on floor 0 and inside Maxi Ooh!. The museum has joined the project “Musei amici delle bambine, dei bambini e degli adolescenti” (museums friendly to children and young people).

Getting there & parking

On foot the museum is about 10 minutes from the centre, through the underpass of Via Madruzzo. By car from the A22 motorway, take the Trento Sud exit, then the ring road northwards, exit 4 and Via Sanseverino. By bike along the Bolzano–Rovereto cycle path, with bike racks next to the museum. Tourist coaches can stop for drop-off and pick-up near ITAS Forum, about 400 metres away (5 minutes on foot).

Amenities & dining

• Café
• Museum shop
• Lockers
• Wi-Fi

Free Wi-Fi network “MUSE-free” for visitors in the exhibition rooms (registration with an e-mail address, browsing up to 3 hours). MUSE Café (open every day; run by Compass Group Italia) and MUSE Shop (closed on Mondays, except in August). Lockers at the entrance with a €1 deposit.

Events & venue rental

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

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