Museo di Storia Naturale della Calabria e Orto Botanico (MuSNOB)
Natural history museum of the University of Calabria with palaeontology and zoology sections and a botanic garden of around eight hectares.
Have only individual sections read aloud
About the museum
The Museum of Natural History of Calabria and Botanic Garden (MuSNOB) is part of the University Museum System of the University of Calabria at Arcavacata di Rende. It brings together the palaeontology and zoology sections, housed in building cube 14/b on Via Pietro Bucci, and the Botanic Garden section.
The palaeontology section presents fossils of animals and plants from Calabria and other parts of the world in four rooms arranged chronologically: Precambrian with stromatolites, Palaeozoic with marine invertebrates and the Devonian predator Dunkleosteus, Mesozoic with remains of dinosaurs and reptiles, including a Tyrannosaurus rex skull and the cast of “Ciro”, Italy’s first dinosaur, and Cenozoic with Miocene fossils from Cessaniti and Late Pleistocene shells from Bovetto. The zoology section illustrates Calabrian fauna, particularly birds and mammals, with digital monitors, virtual reality viewers and an immersive CAVE. The Botanic Garden, covering around eight hectares of hilly ground, represents the natural and semi-natural habitats of Calabria’s flora and also includes a herbarium with over 25,000 specimens.
Highlights
- Tyrannosaurus rex skull and cast of “Ciro”, Italy’s first dinosaur
- Miocene fossils from Cessaniti (Vibo Valentia)
- Zoology section with virtual reality and an immersive CAVE
- Botanic garden of around eight hectares with the Giardini della Calabria
- Herbarium with over 25,000 specimens of vascular plants
Permanent exhibitions
- Sezione di Paleontologia – Four chronological rooms, from the Precambrian to the Cenozoic, with fossils from Calabria and other regions.
- Sezione di Zoologia – Calabrian fauna, particularly birds and mammals, with digital tools and virtual reality.
- Orto Botanico – Around eight hectares with the Orto degli Ulivi, the Giardini della Calabria, Isoëtes meadows, woodland and a herbarium.
- Operated by
- Università della Calabria – Sistema Museale di Ateneo
Admission & discounts
Admission is free.
Free admission according to an Italian museums portal; the university website does not list prices.
Accessibility
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Kids & families
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Getting there & parking
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
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
| Guided tours | yes |
|---|---|
| School programs | yes |
| Good to know | Guided tours and workshops for primary and secondary schools, with thematic routes for upper secondary schools. Bookings are compulsory for groups (infomusei@unical.it). The botanic garden has its entrance in Via Savinio (Edificio Polifunzionale), telephone +39 0984 493089. |
