Museo di Storia Naturale del Salento

About the museum

The Museo di Storia Naturale del Salento, also known as the Museo di Calimera, presents itself as the largest natural history museum in southern Italy, with over 2,000 square metres of exhibition space, a Vivarium and a wildlife park. It lies along the Calimera–Borgagne provincial road in the Salento peninsula.

The interior route is arranged in sections on astronomy, mineralogy, geology, paleontology and paleoanthropology, entomology, malacology and marine biology, taxidermy, and embryology and teratology; the botany section is still being set up. Alongside these are departments of herpetology and ornithology, a library, a botanical garden, a Butterfly House and a planetarium.

The museum is also home to the Osservatorio faunistico della Provincia di Lecce (wildlife observatory), which includes the sea turtle rescue center and the wildlife reception center CRAS Salento. Its research areas are nature conservation and the systematics and biogeography of insects, amphibians, reptiles and birds; the museum organizes scientific expeditions, mainly in Africa, and publishes the journal Thalassia Salentina.

Highlights

• Vivarium and Sea Turtle Room
• Wildlife park
• Butterfly House (Mesocosmo), the largest butterfly house in southern Italy
• Planetarium with 45-minute sessions
• Rescue center for sea turtles and wildlife

Permanent exhibitions

• Percorso naturalistico interno – Sections on astronomy, mineralogy, paleontology, entomology, malacology, taxidermy and embryology, with the Vivarium and the Sea Turtle Room.
• Parco faunistico – Outdoor area with animals, included in the museum ticket.

Director

Antonio Durante

Admission & discounts

The ticket includes the indoor route (Vivarium, Sea Turtle Room and the other sections) and the wildlife park. School programs cost €10 (guided tour and workshop on one route, 9:00–12:00) or €15 (two routes, 9:00–16:00).

Accessibility

• Wheelchair accessible: no information
• Elevator: no information
• 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

The museum lists disabled access among its services; no further details are published.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Family tours & workshops

Educational area, workshops for schools, Butterfly House and planetarium; family ticket.

Getting there & parking

The museum is on the S.P. Calimera–Borgagne provincial road, at km 1.

Amenities & dining

• Café
• Museum shop
• Wi-Fi

Snack bar and bookshop; free Wi-Fi area; free parking.

Events & venue rental

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Plan your visit