Museums in Calci

Tuscany, Italy

Calci, a picturesque village in Tuscany, is home to two significant museums that are of both cultural and scientific interest.

Museo Nazionale della Certosa Monumentale di Calci: This museum is located in the historic Carthusian monastery of Calci, a former monastery of the Carthusian Order. Visitors can explore the impressive architecture of the monastery, including the church with the Last Supper fresco by Bernardino Poccetti from 1597. A highlight is the library with the "Bibbia di Calci", a richly decorated Bible manuscript from the 12th century. The museum provides insight into the lives of the monks and the history of the monastery.

Museo di Storia Naturale dell'Università di Pisa: This museum is one of the oldest in the world and is also located in the Carthusian monastery of Calci. It houses an impressive collection of fossils, minerals, and animal specimens. Particularly notable is the whale skeleton gallery, the largest of its kind in Italy, as well as the country's largest freshwater aquarium with 39 tanks and around 100 species. The museum offers a comprehensive overview of biodiversity and the history of the Earth.

A visit to these museums allows visitors to experience both the cultural significance of the monastery and the scientific collections of the University of Pisa.