Start | Discover places | Italy | Emilia-Romagna | Bologna | Museums | Museo di Palazzo Poggi

Museo di Palazzo Poggi

Museum | Bologna | Emilia-Romagna | Italy

The Museo di Palazzo Poggi in Bologna is a significant museum that documents the history and development of scientific research at the University of Bologna. It is located in the historic Palazzo Poggi, a building from the 16th century originally built as the residence of the Poggi family and has been the seat of the Institute of Sciences and Arts since 1711.

Collections and Exhibitions

The museum houses a variety of collections covering various scientific disciplines:

Natural History: The collections of Ulisse Aldrovandi from the 16th century are displayed here, representing one of the oldest natural history collections in the world.

Anatomy and Obstetrics: The museum displays anatomical wax models, including the "Venerina" by Clemente Susini, offering a detailed insight into 18th-century human anatomy.

Physics and Chemistry: There are exhibitions on light and optics, electricity, as well as historical physical instruments documenting the development of physical sciences.

Geography and Military Architecture: The collection includes models of ships and fortresses, as well as maps and plans illustrating military architecture and geographical discoveries of the time.

Art of the Far East: A collection of over 500 Japanese woodcuts and Chinese paintings from the 19th century is also part of the museum.

Historical Significance

The museum reconstructs the laboratories and collections of the Institute of Sciences and Arts founded in 1711 by Luigi Ferdinando Marsili. This institute was a leading center for scientific research in the 18th century and contributed significantly to the development of modern sciences.

Architecture and Furnishings

Designed by architects Bartolomeo Triachini and Pellegrino Tibaldi, Palazzo Poggi is known for its magnificent frescoes and historical rooms. Particularly noteworthy is the Aula Carducci, where the poet Giosuè Carducci held his lectures from 1860 to 1904.

Overall, the Museo di Palazzo Poggi offers a comprehensive insight into the history of scientific research and education at the University of Bologna and is a significant site for education and cultural exchange.

Contact details

Web

Phone

Address
Via Zamboni, 33
40126 Bologna

Map view

Opening hours

Sunday10:00 - 18:00
Monday--
Tuesday10:00 - 16:00
Wednesday10:00 - 16:00
Thursday10:00 - 16:00
Friday10:00 - 16:00
Saturday10:00 - 18:00

Reviews

450 Reviews

Martina Pšenková
01.02.2025

Veľmi zaujímavé miesto, rôzne expozície, každého niečo zaujme. Vstup pre študentov zdarma.
Gustavo Muller
28.01.2025

Es pequeño, pero muy interesante. Fundamentalmente para amantes de medicina. Hay un poco de zoologia, botánica, embriologia, musculos y articulos historicos de medicina. Tambien algo de artilleria y navios a escala. La sala de embriologia y la del cuerpo humano, es muy interesante.
Andreas-Robert Toadere
29.01.2025

Something different to see, a naturalist museum sith pieces from all over the world. The focus is on the animal types and spieces on the one hand and on the other hand on the anatomy. Well deserving of the entrance fee, you could spend 2h easily here and not get bored.
Ronnie Pirlo
08.01.2025

La visita mi è piaciuta. La verità è che ciascuna sala è molto curata, bella da vedere e interessante. Il giro non è troppo lungo. Non ho trovato nessuna persona nel corso della mia breve visita, non che cercassi una guida perché le ragazze alla biglietteria mi avevano dato perfette indicazioni però credo che potrebbe essere utile qualche figura in più a guidare all’interno della mostra.
Hagai Leal
29.12.2024

A very good museum for people interested in history of science and didactics. One of Bologna’s best kept secrets. The museum tells the story of science in Bologna, showcasing pieces such as maps and anatomical models. It presents some wax models produced by Anna Manzoni, the world’s first female anatomist who produced a vast work in the 18th century, and others made of terracotta by anonymous artists or anatomists.
Michela Mosca
04.12.2024

Un museo davvero suggestivo, una specie di Wunderkammer dove si possono trovare cere anatomiche, modelli di vascelli, antiche carte geografiche e mappamondi, fossili. Passa in sordina rispetto ad altri luoghi simbolo di Bologna, invece la consiglio come una tappa. Ho anche conosciuto la figura della modellista Anna Morandi... Fantastica
Mario Riccardo Pro
17.11.2024

Bellissimo Museo. Interessante anche la parte di ostetricia
Alice Agate
15.11.2024

Interessante e accattivante, la maggior parte delle sale è dedicato allo studio delle piante, animali, anatomia umana e ostetricia. C'è meno invece su scienze chimiche e fisiche, che sinceramente ci interessavano di più, ma è normale perchè a quei tempi erano anche poco sviluppate. La parte sull'astronomia invece e tutta raccolta nel museo della Specola, che purtroppo ora è chiuso al pubblico.
Bill Eichengrun
15.11.2024

In no way is this a museum. It's a personal collection of stuff with no real rhyme, reason or purpose. One man's idea of a collection. Don't waste your money or time.
Vlad Pasencu
19.10.2024

A well-curated eclectic collection of maps, anatomical and zoological curiosities. Highly recommended!
Sotiria
16.10.2024

Αξίζει σίγουρα μια επίσκεψη
justyna sobkow
15.10.2024

Może nie jest to miejsce dla każdego, ale dla mnie bardzo ciekawe Zdecydowanie polecam
Merel van Koekenberg
18.09.2024

An incredibly cool museum with very interesting collections! Very educational and inspiring! Would highly recommend visiting this museum if you are in Bologna!!!
Joanna Jakubiak
17.09.2024

Bardzo ciekawe muzeum! Warto zobaczyć 🤗
Katarzyna Kuśmierz
05.09.2024

Zdecydowanie polecam! Nie tylko przez eksponaty w muzeum, ale także że względu na imponujące wnętrza muzeum. Bardzo imponująca część anatomiczna.
Al Tahir
25.08.2024

Super quiet on a Sunday. Free entry for young people! Fascinating collection of historic specimens. Nice and cool inside.
Sara
01.08.2024

Simply extraordinary, one of the best museums I have ever visited. Every exposition is beautifully displayed and explained by short but detailed descriptions and the different halls (natural science, human anatomy and naval history) are all great. My personal favorite was the human Anatomy exposition, composed by an extremely rich collection of 1700s anatomical wax models, truly wonderful to look at. Expecially for the cheap price it is a must-visit in Bologna.
María Teresa Burguillo Escobar
31.07.2024

Fui animada por el concepto “gabinete de curiosidades”. Creí que estaba orientado hacia lo cultural, lo antropológico, lo social. Sin embargo, se trata más de un museo de ciencias naturales. Hay reliquias repugnantes. Salí con el estómago revuelto. Vale 7 euros la entrada.
TudorZbr
29.07.2024

La sezione anatomica è spettacolare, ogni minimo dettaglio ci ha ipnotizzati per tutta la durata della visita!
jeremy gauntlett
28.07.2024

Quirky, fascinating, gothic at times. Extraordinary atmospheric rooms with fascinating exhibits. Loved it.
Lluis Higini Melero Peris
04.03.2022

Modificado. Recorriendo la ciudad por vía Zamboni, llegamos hasta este Palazzo Poggi, un edificio del S. XVI, que pertenece a la Universidad de Bolonia, en su interior se encuentra el museo con exposiciones de todo tipo sobre ciencias. En este caso solamente vimos parte del interior y su parte exterior. No visitamos el museo.
Emma Le
22.07.2024

As a museum lover, singlehandedly the best museum I’ve ever visited! Something for everyone and such unique exhibits. The museum and university’s history could be felt in the air; these exhibits aren’t curated for sales, they’re discoveries of scientists from the past. The library looks and even smells exactly like the old-timey ones from the movies. And love how affordable the tickets are!
Ray Anthony Roderos (Knight)
09.07.2024

Its so varied that each exhibit tells a story, inviting curiosity and wonder.
Theodora Alexandrescu
07.07.2024

The exhibits have a history of their own
許宏維 Hung wei HSU
30.06.2024

算是科學類博物館,東西不太多,門票7歐。 裡面最有特色應該是解剖學相關的東西,蠻仔細的,此外還有些船隻跟武器的模型也不錯,進去裡面有不需額外付費的廁所跟裝水的地方。

 

Close by