Museo di storia naturale di Gagliole
Natural history museum in the historic centre of Gagliole, with fossils, minerals and shells tracing the evolution of life on Earth.
Have only individual sections read aloud
About the museum
The museum arose from the Fondazione Oppelide, established on 3 July 2000 by Paolo Paoletti and Onelia Marasca and legally recognised on 11 October 2001. The collection of fossils and minerals dates back to 1966–1967, when some young enthusiasts began carrying out research in the Valle dell'Elce, and over the years they enriched it with study trips abroad too. The name refers to the Oppelidae, rare ammonites of the area, which lived about 170 million years ago and were found in the Bajocian layers of the valley.
The museum opened to the public on 22 September 2002 in a small room in Via Bottacchiari 6, provided by the parish. On 10 April 2010 it moved to Via Tripoli 9, on the ground floor of a 14th-century palazzo in the historic centre, owned by the municipality and loaned to the Foundation.
The exhibition route is chronological: it begins with the Archaeozoic Era and runs through all the subsequent eras up to the present day. Alongside mesosaurs, an ichthyosaur, dinosaur eggs, insects in amber, ammonites and Carboniferous ferns, the largest core consists of fossils from the local area, which make it possible to read the local environment. The museum has a library and an educational laboratory, active since 2008.
Highlights
- Chronological route from the Archaeozoic Era to the present
- Fossils from the territory of the Valle dell'Elce
- An ichthyosaur, mesosaurs and dinosaur eggs
- Insects in amber, ammonites and Carboniferous ferns
- Collections of minerals and shells
- Educational laboratory for schools and families
Permanent exhibition
- Collezioni di paleontologia, mineralogia e malacologia – Chronological route on the evolution of life, with local and international fossils, minerals and shells.
- Founded
- 2002
- Operated by
- Fondazione Oppelide
- Visitors per year
- approx. 8,080
Admission & discounts
| Adults | €6 |
|---|---|
| Children & teens | €4Children aged 4 to 14; adults and young people from 15 years old pay €6. |
| Visitors with disabilities | freeFree admission for people with disabilities. |
Free admission also for teachers and escorts of school groups, ICOM members, officials of the Ministry of Culture and of the heritage authorities, and journalists and accredited scholars with the permission of the directorate.
Accessibility
- Wheelchair accessible
- Elevator: no information
- Accessible restroom
- 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 rooms are fully accessible thanks to ramps, and the toilets meet the standards for people with disabilities; a specific tour is provided for visually impaired people.
Kids & families
Great for kids & families
- Family tours & workshops
- Kids’ birthday parties
The museum offers educational and recreational activities for different age groups, and birthday parties at the museum.
Getting there & parking
The museum is at Via Tripoli 9, in the historic centre of Gagliole. By car: A14 motorway, exit Civitanova Marche or Ancona Nord, then SS 77 or SS 76 and provincial roads; for satnav purposes the website gives Piazza Matteotti, Gagliole. Nearest airports: Falconara and Perugia.
Get directionsAmenities & 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
| Guided tours | yes |
|---|---|
| School programs | yes |
| Good to know | The guided tour lasts 30–40 minutes; for schools booking is compulsory, and educational activities take place in the rooms and the laboratory. Online booking is possible. |
