Museo di Biologia Marina «Pietro Parenzan»
University museum in Villa Lucisani in Porto Cesareo, with shell collections, fish models, a basking shark and the algae herbarium “Irma Pierpaoli”.
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About the museum
The Museo di Biologia Marina “Pietro Parenzan” in Porto Cesareo is run by the Università del Salento and is housed in Villa Lucisani, in Via Amerigo Vespucci. Its collections, of about nine hundred specimens, illustrate the marine fauna and flora of the Apulian coast and the relationship between the local community and the sea.
Among the collections, the collection of ecological malacology stands out, with shells from the Apulian coast presented without special conservation treatments. The Sala della Pesca (Fishing Room) displays resin models of local fish with educational panels on their morphology and habits, while the Sala dello Squalo Elefante (Basking Shark Room) is painted blue to evoke the marine depths frequented by the large shark. The museum also produces panels and posters on environmental protection and local traditions, including traditional recipes for the fish of Porto Cesareo.
The Algario “Irma Pierpaoli” (algae herbarium) holds over seven hundred specimens of macroalgae collected between 1909 and 1965, mainly in the central Adriatic and the seas of Taranto, for a total of 219 species (122 red, 53 brown and 44 green algae). The collection was donated by Professor Irma Pierpaoli to Professor Pietro Parenzan, who made it available to the scientific community and enriched it with specimens from the southern Adriatic and the Ionian Sea. The museum also regularly hosts temporary exhibitions on environmental themes.
Highlights
- Ecological malacology collection with shells from the Apulian coast
- Basking Shark Room
- Fishing Room with resin models of local fish
- Algario “Irma Pierpaoli” with 219 species of macroalgae
Permanent exhibition
- Collezioni di biologia marina – Ecological malacology, Fishing Room, Basking Shark Room and the Algario “Irma Pierpaoli” with 219 species of macroalgae.
- Founded
- 1966
- Operated by
- Università del Salento
Admission & discounts
Admission is free.
Accessibility
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Kids & families
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Getting there & parking
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Amenities & dining
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Events & venue rental
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Plan your visit
| Guided tours | yes |
|---|---|
| School programs | yes |
| Good to know | The museum offers guided tours and educational activities. |
