Museo Marconi
Museum in Villa Griffone, where Guglielmo Marconi developed wireless telegraphy, with working historical equipment. Guided visits only, by reservation.
Have only individual sections read aloud
About the museum
The Museo Marconi is located at Villa Griffone in Pontecchio Marconi, the Marconi family’s country residence, where the young Guglielmo developed wireless telegraphy. The villa is a national monument and also houses a research centre promoted by the Fondazione Ugo Bordoni, the University of Bologna and the Fondazione Guglielmo Marconi.
The Foundation’s outreach activities began in the 1980s with the interactive exhibitions “Scienza o Magia?”. In 1995, for the centenary of radio, the Foundation acquired the Bigazzi collection of working replicas of radiotelegraphic equipment and the Soresini archive of books, photographs and documents. Part of the top floor of the villa, where Marconi had set up his first laboratory, was converted into an exhibition space. The room of the silkworms was reconstructed in 1996. The museum opened on 29 September 1999.
The route pays particular attention to the years 1895–1901 and to Marconi’s training, and traces the development of radio communications in the 20th century, from radiotelegraphy to broadcasting. Working historical equipment, hypertexts, films and interactive devices can be seen, along with exhibition islands on the history of electricity, the precursors of radio and maritime applications. Over the years the collections have been enriched with archives and donations, including vintage radios from the Basili family and the Catania Meucci archive.
Highlights
- Working historical equipment, including the antenna and transmitter of 1895
- Marconi’s young laboratory and the room of the silkworms
- Exhibition islands on electricity, radio precursors and maritime applications
- Soresini archive library and collection of vintage radios
- Technical demonstration with live experiments
Permanent exhibition
- Il museo di Villa Griffone – Working historical equipment, hypertexts and films on the birth of radio communications.
- Founded
- 1999
- Operated by
- Fondazione Guglielmo Marconi
- Visitors per year
- approx. 6,177
Admission & discounts
| Adults | €10 |
|---|---|
| Reduced | €9visitors aged 19 to 25 and over 65 |
| Children & teens | €5Students aged 6 to 19: €5. Pre-school children enter free of charge. |
| Seniors | €9Over 65s. |
| Visitors with disabilities | freecompanion free · Free for people with disabilities and one accompanying person. |
| Students & apprentices | €5Students aged 6 to 19. |
| Groups | –Prices are not negotiable; advance bank transfer is possible for groups. Groups of up to 90 people. One accompanying person per organised group, and accompanying teachers of school classes, enter free of charge. |
| Families | €8Family ticket: €8 for the parent and €4 for each child aged 6 to 19. |
| Technical demonstration (supplement) | €3Supplement for visitors over 12 on dates for individual visitors; for groups €60 (€30 per class for schools). |
Rates valid from 1 March 2025. The ticket includes admission and the guided tour. Free for holders of the Card Cultura. Payment on site, in cash or by card.
Accessibility
- Wheelchair accessible
- 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
All rooms can be reached by lift.
Kids & families
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Getting there & parking
By car
Parking available
Cars and motorcycles can park near the entrance to Villa Griffone; coaches must stop in the Piazza del Mausoleo, at the foot of the villa.
Villa Griffone is located in Pontecchio Marconi, about 15 km from Bologna.
Get directionsAmenities & dining
- Museum shop
Bookshop; possibility to organise events in the villa.
Events & venue rental
- Spaces for rent
The Foundation offers the possibility of organising events at Villa Griffone.
Inquiries & detailsPlan your visit
| Guided tours | yes · approx. 75 min |
|---|---|
| School programs | yes |
| Good to know | All visits are guided and last about 1 hour and 15 minutes (about 1 hour and 45 minutes with the technical demonstration). Small animals are admitted in a pet carrier. For schools there is a workshop with experiments on electricity, electromagnetism and telecommunications. |
