Museo civico di storia naturale di Verona

About the museum

The museum is housed in Palazzo Pompei, one of the most important buildings in the city from a historical and architectural point of view. It was commissioned by the Lavezzola family from the architect Michele Sanmicheli between the 1530s and 1550s. Passed to the Pompei family, it was donated in 1833 by Count Alessandro Pompei to the municipality (Comune) of Verona, so that it could house exhibitions, art collections and scientific collections. From 1858 the original nucleus was expanded by annexing neighbouring spaces and houses.

Verona has a long tradition of natural history collecting. As early as around 1550, the apothecary Francesco Calzolari had formed a museum of natural objects in his own house; Ulisse Aldrovandi visited it in 1554 and called it the Naturae Theatrum, which some consider the first natural history museum in the world. The present civic institution dates from the second half of the 19th century (the monograph on its history starts from 1862).

Today the geology, palaeontology and zoology sections occupy sixteen exhibition rooms covering 1,572 square metres at Palazzo Pompei, together with the library, laboratories, collection storage and offices. The prehistory and botany sections are based in the Palazzina Comando of the former Austrian Arsenal. The material collected by researchers and naturalists over almost five centuries is catalogued, studied and partly on display. The museum also carries out intensive research, publication and educational work.

Highlights

• Sixteen rooms in Palazzo Pompei, a work by Michele Sanmicheli
• Fossils and the Bolca room
• Minerals, rocks and volcanoes
• Sala del Naturalismo veronese on the history of collecting
• Accessible “Segui FOSSY” routes with multisensory stations
• Educational activities and workshops for children

Permanent exhibition

• Esposizione permanente di Palazzo Pompei – Sixteen rooms covering 1,572 m² devoted to minerals and rocks, palaeontology (Bolca), zoology and the history of natural history collecting; the Prehistory room is temporarily closed.

Founded

1862

Operated by

Comune di Verona – Musei Civici

Director

Francesca Rossi

Visitors per year

approx. 33,909

Admission & discounts

Free admission: Admission for €1 on the first Sunday of the month from November to March.

Free admission also with the VeronaCard and the My IMUV Card (residents of the municipality of Verona). Those entitled to reductions or free admission must show their entitlement at the entrance. The museum ticket also gives free entry to the Arche Scaligere (open in summer) on the same day. Tickets are available online via the official website of the Musei Civici (verona.coopculture.it) or at the museum ticket office.

Accessibility

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

For visitors with mobility difficulties the entrance is via Via Museo 2; the lift serves all exhibition floors. There are some ramps (the entrance ramp has a gradient of 6%, and the route has gradients of 7 to 17%). The toilets are on the ground floor, accessible from the outer courtyard. Benches are available in the rooms. Two accessible “Segui FOSSY” routes are available: twelve stops with information sheets in Italian and English that can be read with a screen reader, and six multisensory stations with specimens or 3D models to touch, Braille captions, videos in Italian Sign Language (LIS) and descriptions with AAC (augmentative and alternative communication) symbols.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Family tours & workshops
• Activity booklet, scavenger hunt or kids’ audio guide
• Hands-on stations
• Stroller-friendly
• Kids’ birthday parties

The museum offers workshops and educational routes for children (for example “DinoMania” for ages 6 to 11) and birthday parties. Strollers are allowed on the routes, except in areas where this is not possible for safety reasons.

Getting there & parking

The main station is Verona Porta Nuova. The museum is close to the centre but outside the ZTL (limited traffic zone). By car: A22, Verona Nord exit, or A4, Verona Sud exit, then follow the signs for the centre. Since 2025 traffic arrangements have been changing in the Veronetta district because of the construction of the trolleybus line.

Amenities & dining

• Museum shop
• Coat check

Bookshop and free bag storage. The museum admits dogs, on a lead and muzzled, in accordance with the pet policy of the Musei Civici.

Events & venue rental

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Plan your visit