Museo di palazzo Poggi
University museum in the 16th-century Palazzo Poggi, seat of the Istituto delle Scienze: collections of physics, chemistry, anatomy, natural history and the Museo Aldrovandiano.
Have only individual sections read aloud
About the museum
In 1711 the Senate of Bologna bought Palazzo Poggi to house the Istituto delle Scienze e delle Arti (Institute of Sciences and Arts), founded at the wish of Luigi Ferdinando Marsili. The rooms, frescoed by Pellegrino Tibaldi, Nicolò dell’Abate and Prospero Fontana, preserve the Institute’s ancient scientific collections.
The museum route includes the rooms of geography and navigation, military architecture, physics, natural history, chemistry, and human anatomy and obstetrics, as well as the Museo Aldrovandiano, heir to the 16th-century natural history collections of Ulisse Aldrovandi. The visit ends in the rooms of the University Library, including the Aula Magna and the Museo Marsili.
The museum is part of the Sistema Museale di Ateneo of the University of Bologna and offers guided tours, workshops and educational activities for schools, families and adults.
Highlights
- Rooms frescoed by Tibaldi, Nicolò dell’Abate and Fontana
- Rooms of physics, chemistry, anatomy and obstetrics
- Museo Aldrovandiano
- Rooms of geography, navigation and military architecture
- Aula Magna and Museo Marsili of the University Library
Permanent exhibition
- Collezioni storiche dell'Istituto delle Scienze – Rooms of geography and navigation, military architecture, physics, natural history, chemistry, human anatomy and obstetrics, together with the Museo Aldrovandiano.
- Operated by
- Università di Bologna – Sistema Museale di Ateneo
- Visitors per year
- approx. 36,195
Admission & discounts
| Adults | €10 |
|---|---|
| Reduced | €6Young people aged 20 to 26, over-65s, groups with a guide (10–20 people), holders of the Specola ticket, FAI cards and Almae Matris Alumni cards. |
| Children & teens | freefree up to age 18 · Free admission for under-19s. |
| Visitors with disabilities | freecompanion free · Free admission for people with disabilities and companions. |
Free admission also for students and staff of the University of Bologna, teachers with a card, journalists, licensed tourist guides, holders of ICOM and ANMS cards and of the Card Cultura. The ticket entitles you to free entry to the MEUS and reduced entry to the Specola, to be bought at the ticket office.
Accessibility
- Wheelchair accessible: no information
- Elevator
- Accessible restroom: no information
- Accessible parking: no information
- Service dogs welcome: no information
- Tactile models & exhibits: no information
- Sign language tours: no information
- Easy-to-read materials: no information
- Audio description: no information
Detailed accessibility guides for hearing and mobility disabilities can be downloaded from the website.
Kids & families
| Kids’ admission | free up to age 18 |
|---|
- Family tours & workshops
- Baby changing facilities
Guided visits for adults and families, educational workshops for children and a Baby Pit Stop area for breastfeeding and changing babies.
Getting there & parking
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Amenities & dining
- Museum shop
- Coat check
Cloakroom, bookshop, snack area and toilets.
Events & venue rental
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Plan your visit
| Guided tours | yes |
|---|---|
| School programs | yes |
| Good to know | Online tickets via Ticketlandia or at the ticket office. Booking is compulsory (by e-mail to sma.museizamboni33@unibo.it) for groups of more than 10 people visiting independently. Guided and educational visits on request for individuals, groups, schools and summer camps. |
