Museo di Storia Naturale "Don Michelangelo Ambrosioni"
Museum | Merate | Lombardia | Italy
The "Museo di Storia Naturale 'Don Michelangelo Ambrosioni'" in Merate, Italy, is a significant natural history museum that houses an extensive collection of over 2,100 exhibits. The collection was compiled by Professor Don Michelangelo Ambrosioni, a natural scientist and teacher at the "Collegio Alessandro Manzoni" in Merate, during his teaching career from 1891 to 1935. After his death in 1935, he bequeathed his collection to the city of Merate, making it accessible to the public ever since.
Collections and Exhibitions
The museum is divided into different sections covering various aspects of natural sciences:
Mineralogy and Paleontology: The first floor of the museum features exhibits on minerals and fossils. Over a hundred mineral specimens are displayed here, classified according to scientific criteria. The central showcases present fossil remains of animals and plants from the Mesozoic era, some of which were discovered in the surroundings of Lecco.
Zoology: The adjacent rooms house the zoological collection, divided according to biological-ecological criteria. The exhibits are categorized into different biomes, including freshwater and coastal biomes, forests, mountain ranges, deserts, grasslands, anthropogenic biomes, and four sections dedicated to the marine environment.
History and Technology: The second floor contains a historical section dedicated to the resistance in the Merate area. Named after the Italo-Canadian officer Giacinto Domenico Lazzarini, this exhibition includes official documents, newspaper articles, biographies, photographs, military relics, uniforms, and badges from World War I and II. Particularly noteworthy is the collection of rocks from the surroundings of Lecco and the section documenting scientific and technological progress, including an interesting section on optics with historical film projectors and analog Super-8 video cameras.
Educational and Cultural Programs
The museum offers various educational programs including workshops, lectures, and guided tours aimed at schools, families, and the general public. These programs aim to promote understanding and appreciation of natural sciences and history.
Significance for the Region
The "Museo di Storia Naturale 'Don Michelangelo Ambrosioni'" plays a central role in preserving and promoting the cultural heritage of the region. It serves as an educational and cultural center that deepens understanding of the natural world and the history of the region, fostering a dialogue between the past and the present.
