Volandia – Parco e Museo del Volo

About the museum

Volandia was created by restoring the historic Officine Aeronautiche Caproni, founded in 1910 at Malpensa. The complex covers over 60,000 square metres of industrial archaeology, a few steps from Terminal 1 of Malpensa airport, and is run by the Fondazione Volandia.

The route has eleven areas, from the first pioneering balloon flights to the convertiplane, and includes about one hundred aircraft. The Ala fissa (Fixed Wing) pavilion presents propeller and jet aircraft in chronological and thematic order, including the Blériot XI, the Gabardini flying boat and the Douglas DC-3 Dakota. The area devoted to the first flight at Malpensa recreates the feat of 27 May 1910 with the Caproni Ca.1 biplane, the only example in the world. Other sections are dedicated to the Caproni workshops, civil and military helicopters (Ala rotante, Rotating Wing), the forms of flight, and the history of AgustaWestland with the AW609 convertiplane.

The Padiglione Spazio (Space Pavilion) with the planetarium traces the conquest of space, with astronauts' suits and 1:10 scale reconstructions of the Saturn V and Soyuz rockets. The visit is completed by the Collezione Piazzai with over 1,200 scale models, the Museo Flaminio Bertoni dedicated to the designer from Varese, and the Museo Europeo dei Trasporti Ogliari, with trams, locomotives and funiculars, currently closed for track works.

Highlights

• Over 100 aircraft across eleven exhibition areas
• Caproni Ca.1, the biplane of Malpensa's first flight (1910)
• Douglas DC-3 Dakota, Blériot XI and Gabardini flying boat
• Space Pavilion with planetarium and 1:10 scale Saturn V and Soyuz rockets
• Civil and military helicopters and the AW609 convertiplane
• Piazzai Collection with over 1,200 scale models
• Museo Flaminio Bertoni with cars, sketches and sculptures
• Flight simulators and over 1,000 square metres of play areas

Permanent exhibition

• Padiglioni di Volandia – Eleven exhibition areas: Ala fissa, Ala rotante, Forme del Volo, Il futuro del volo, Padiglione Spazio with planetarium, Collezione Piazzai, Officine Caproni, Museo Flaminio Bertoni and other sections, with about one hundred aircraft.

Founded

2010

Operated by

Fondazione Volandia

Visitors per year

approx. 150,000

Admission & discounts

The ticket covers access to all pavilions, the planetarium show, use of the simulators (from age 12), screenings in the period footage hall, climbing aboard the MD-80, DC-9 and CH-47, the outdoor commercial aviation area, the Museo Flaminio Bertoni, the children's play area and the picnic area. Tickets are bought at the ticket office, online with advance sale, or at sales points. App18 and Carta del Docente are accepted only online via TicketOne. Parking is free.

Accessibility

• Wheelchair accessible
• Elevator: no information
• Accessible restroom: no information
• Accessible parking
• 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 states that the entire site is accessible. Numerous reserved parking spaces are available in front of the entrance.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Family tours & workshops
• Hands-on stations
• Playground / play area
• Kids’ birthday parties

Over 1,000 square metres of outdoor and indoor play areas, including a baby area, flight simulators (from age 12) and an area equipped for birthday parties. Smoking is prohibited in the outdoor play areas.

Getting there & parking

By car: A8 Milan–Varese motorway, Busto Arsizio exit, then the SS336 expressway towards Malpensa, Somma Lombardo – Case Nuove exit, then SP52 as far as the former Officine Caproni site.

Amenities & dining

• Café
• Restaurant
• Museum shop

Volandia Flight Café (free entry without ticket), food service inside the museum and the Volandia Store with flight-themed items. Equipped picnic areas in the green spaces. In winter the entrance, the store, the Forme del Volo, Spazio and Futuro del Volo pavilions, the baby area, the fast food, the library and the classrooms are heated. The Ala fissa and Ala rotante pavilions are not heated.

Events & venue rental

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Plan your visit