Museo della tecnica elettrica

About the museum

The Museo della Tecnica Elettrica (MTE) tells the story of the scientific discoveries and inventions linked to electricity, from its origins to the present day. It is located in via Ferrata, Pavia, in a space of about 5,000 square metres, and forms part of the Sistema Museale di Ateneo (university museum system) of the University of Pavia.

The collections were formed by bringing together three main nuclei: the Enel collection, the Sirti collection and the university collection, to which donations from private individuals are periodically added. In total more than 7,000 original objects are on display, some of them very large, such as an alternator from the Paderno d’Adda power station, a tram from the city of Milan, a particle accelerator, a wind generator and the Eta Beta nuclear fusion generator.

The permanent route follows five historical sections and one thematic section: from the origins up to 1880, with Volta’s pile and Faraday’s induction, through the spread of lighting, the telephone and telegraphy, to the industrial and domestic use of electricity in the 20th century. Among the best-known pieces is an original Enigma machine. Since 2021 the storeroom has also been open to the public, with hundreds of everyday objects linked to photography, music and computing, and sections on turbines, electric vehicles, telephone exchanges and military equipment.

Highlights

• More than 7,000 original objects from the Enel, Sirti and university collections
• Alternator from the Paderno d’Adda power station and a Milan tram
• Particle accelerator and Eta Beta nuclear fusion generator
• Original Enigma machine
• Storeroom open to visitors, with hundreds of everyday objects
• Some objects with which to experiment how they work

Permanent exhibition

• Collezioni permanenti – Historical route in five sections and one theme on the discovery and use of electricity, from the origins to today, with the storeroom open to visitors.

Founded

2007

Operated by

Università degli Studi di Pavia – Sistema Museale di Ateneo

Director

Carlo Berizzi

Visitors per year

approx. 4,526

Admission & discounts

The full ticket also allows a visit to the other museums of the Sistema Museale di Ateneo (Kosmos, Orto botanico, Museo di Archeologia, Museo per la Storia dell’Università, Museo Camillo Golgi) within one month of first use. Free admission also for students of the University of Pavia, tourist guides and tour escorts, accompanying teachers, journalists with a press card, ICOM and ANMS members, holders of the Abbonamento Musei Lombardia/Valle d’Aosta and of the “Nati con la Cultura” card. Tickets are available on site and online.

Accessibility

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Hands-on stations

In the route, some objects allow visitors to experiment with how they work; for schools there are game-style visits (for example on Enigma) and workshops.

Getting there & parking

By car: from the A7 Milan–Genoa motorway take the Bereguardo – Pavia Nord exit, then the Pavia bypass to the “Istituti Universitari” junction and via Ferrata; from the A21 take the Casteggio – Casatisma exit, the SS35 dei Giovi and the bypass to the same junction.

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