Museo Regionale di Scienze Naturali

About the museum

The museum was established in 1978 by regional law by the Piedmont Region, which placed its seat in part of the former hospital on a loan for use. In 1980 the Region and the University of Turin signed an agreement, still in force, that allows the museum to use the natural sciences collections of the university museums.

The seat is the former Ospedale Maggiore di San Giovanni Battista e della Città di Torino, built at the end of the 17th century by Amedeo di Castellamonte and completed by other prominent architects. The complex covers about 22,000 m², of which 10,000 m² is exhibition space; at present about 2,000 m² is available.

In 2013 the museum closed to the public for structural consolidation and plant works, keeping its basic activities running; in January 2024 the Arca, the Museo Storico di Zoologia (Historical Zoology Museum) and the spaces for temporary exhibitions reopened. The collections include botany (about 85,000 items), entomology, mineralogy, petrography and geology, palaeontology and zoology, and a specialist library of about 19,000 volumes.

Highlights

• Historical Zoology Museum with mounted specimens and skeletons arranged by geographical area
• Fritz, an Asian elephant given to the House of Savoy in 1827
• Ark of Explorations with the skeleton of a rorqual stranded at Bordighera
• Sala delle Meraviglie (Room of Wonders) with selected pieces from the storerooms
• Housed in the former Ospedale San Giovanni Battista, a 17th-century building

Permanent exhibitions

• Museo Storico di Zoologia – Mounted specimens and skeletons from the historical university collections, arranged by geographical area in an imagined journey around the world, centred on the Asian elephant Fritz.
• L'Arca delle Esplorazioni – Tells the story of naturalist voyages past and present, centred on the skeleton of a rorqual stranded at Bordighera in the mid-19th century.
• La Sala delle Meraviglie – A selection of pieces from the museum’s storerooms, chosen for their variety and richness, showing how the collections help to study changes in ecosystems.

Founded

1978

Operated by

Regione Piemonte

Admission & discounts

Free admission also for holders of the Passaporto Culturale, Abbonamento Musei and Torino Card, ICOM members, registered journalists and school classes with a booked guided tour or workshop, accompanied by their teachers. Tickets are valid for one entry on the day and at the time indicated, cannot be refunded or exchanged, and are sent by e-mail as a PDF; entry is guaranteed only to those holding an online ticket. The reduction or free-admission entitlement must be shown at the ticket office.

Accessibility

• Wheelchair accessible
• Elevator
• Accessible restroom
• Accessible parking: no information
• Service dogs welcome
• Tactile models & exhibits
• Sign language tours: no information
• Easy-to-read materials
• Audio description: no information

At the entrance, 14 steps lead up to the raised ground floor; a lift or a platform is available as an alternative. All exhibition areas are on one level. Two wheelchairs are lent by staff on deposit of a document. A baby-changing table is in the accessible toilets; a quiet room is also available. Five tactile panels were made together with the Unione Ciechi del Piemonte; panels, captions and videos are in Italian and English. On request, a social story to prepare the visit and materials in Easy to Read and AAC (augmentative and alternative communication) for the workshops are available; assistance dogs are admitted with certification.

Kids & families

• Family tours & workshops
• Stroller-friendly
• Baby changing facilities

The Education Department organises activities for families at weekends, during holiday periods and on special days; school programmes are also available on request (at least 15 days in advance). The museum has a UNICEF Baby Pit Stop and a baby-changing table; the route is on a single level, suitable for strollers.

Getting there & parking

The museum is in the central ZTL (limited traffic zone), where vehicle access is restricted from Monday to Friday, 7:30–10:30.

Amenities & dining

• Café: not available
• Lockers

The museum has no bar or café. Lockers in the reception area take a €1 coin deposit; backpacks and luggage are not admitted to the galleries.

Events & venue rental

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Plan your visit