Museo de Ciencias Naturales de Valencia

About the museum

The museum occupies the former restaurant of the Jardines de Viveros, a rationalist-style building designed by the architect Luis Gay, restored to become a space dedicated to conserving, studying and disseminating the scientific and natural heritage of Valencia. It is municipally owned and is popularly known as “El Paleontològic”.

The core of the collection comes from a donation made in the 19th century by the engineer Rodrigo Botet. The so-called Botet collection brings together fossils of great value and is considered one of the best collections of South American fossils in Europe. Among the pieces are some twenty skeletons of prehistoric mammals and, above all, the megatherium, a giant ground sloth.

The route is organised into four sections that give priority to content related to the Valencian Community. It includes a reproduction of a prehistoric cave, a reconstruction of Santiago Ramón y Cajal’s study and an audiovisual about Valencian scientists. To bring the pieces closer to the public, the museum uses an augmented-reality app, 3D projections, touch screens, models and dioramas. The museum also runs temporary exhibitions and lecture series.

Highlights

• Megatherium skeleton
• More than 5,000 fossils and some twenty skeletons of prehistoric mammals
• Botet collection of South American fossils
• Reproduction of a prehistoric cave
• Reconstruction of Ramón y Cajal’s study
• Augmented-reality app and 3D projections

Permanent exhibitions

• Colección de paleontología y fósiles – More than 5,000 fossils and some twenty skeletons of prehistoric mammals, with the megatherium as the main piece, presented with augmented reality, 3D projections and dioramas.
• Secciones sobre la Comunitat Valenciana – Four sections devoted mainly to the Valencian Community, with a reproduction of a prehistoric cave, the reconstructed study of Ramón y Cajal and an audiovisual about Valencian scientists.

Founded

1999

Operated by

Ayuntamiento de València

Admission & discounts

Free admission: Sundays and public holidays from 15:00

Free admission with the Valencia Tourist Card. Tickets can be bought online on the sales website of the municipal museums.

Accessibility

• Wheelchair accessible
• Elevator
• Accessible restroom
• 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 main entrance has steps and an alternative ramp with a gradient of 9.8%; the double doors are wide and light. The building has two floors connected by an adapted lift with handrail, visual and Braille information. There is an adapted toilet on the ground floor and the interior route is accessible; one room on the first floor is reached by a ramp. The projection room has two reserved seats in the front row.

Kids & families

Getting there & parking

Amenities & dining

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Events & venue rental

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

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