Museum of Natural History in Venice – history, photo, exposition, opening hours, prices 2021, map
The computer world has captured the modern thinking of mankind. In an unprecedented flow of information, information on any issue has become available. The possibilities of technology make it possible to see the processes taking place at the bottom of the oceans, among snow-capped mountain peaks, underground caves, and unexplored deserts. It is as if ancient reptiles are walking around alive, surrounded by long-extinct plants. And this is not a fictional fairy tale at all, but our past world, which must not be forgotten. To see, hear the sounds of the old life offers the Museum of Natural History in Venice.
Story
Thousands of tourists who come to Venice, where the element of water dominates the life of the city, will surely sail along the famous water artery of the city, called the Grand Canal, a well-known landmark of the country. Beautiful buildings that rise straight out of the water and are repeatedly reflected in it create an unforgettable impression. These undoubtedly include the 12th-century mansion Fondaco d'en Turchi. It is impossible not to stop nearby.
Moreover, now the most interesting museum of natural history of Venice is located here. The idea to use the house of a famous family of merchants for the museum was born in 1923. Many buildings of the estate served as warehouses for a long time. At that time, there were many private collections in the city, and the city museum functioned. Collecting them, forming thematic expositions, making it easy to show to tourists has become an important task for the museum organizers.
The history of the palace is considered the logical beginning of the functioning of the museum. The building is included in the list of the oldest buildings in the city. It was erected in 1225 under the terms of the order of the founder of the family of local nobles, Pesaro, Giacomo Palmieri. The emperor of Constantinople lived for some time in this palace. Among its walls sounded the music of sumptuous balls in honor of important guests. The life of Pope Julius II, Duke of Ferrara Alfonso d'Este, Cardinal Aldobrandini, Antonio Priuli, Turkish merchants flowed under his roof. Since 1621, the mansion began to be called Fondaco dei Turchi. The city government bought the building in 1860.
After restoration work in the palace in 1880, the Correr Museum of Local Lore was located. After the transfer of the museum to the building located on Piazza San Marco in 923, at the suggestion of Giorgio Silvio Cohen, it was decided to create the Museum of Natural History of Venice in it.
Its main function was to show people the life of the distant past of our land. Who lived in these other places on our planet millions of years ago. What flowers, trees, animals adorned the expanses of the earth. It will become easier for mankind to create computer models of real living beings that children of the modern generation are fond of.
exposition
The museum has more than two million interesting exhibits of ancient flora and fauna of the Adriatic. They are included in the scientifically based structure of the museum's expositions, reflecting a comprehensive understanding of nature. Unique collections of skeletons of long-extinct animals, fish, insects, birds, together with rare herbariums, create a correct idea of life in these places. The modern structure of the museum consists of a large number of themed rooms. Among them, the following areas of exposition are of interest:
- Paleontology. Small children, schoolchildren are delighted looking at the skeletons of real dinosaurs, large whales. For example, an almost 8 meter giant, a real dinosaur of Ouranosaurus, found by paleontologist Ligabue in 1973. Or the skull of the giant crocodile Sarcosuchus. Here you can also listen to interesting details of these finds, learn the chronological order of the evolution of the animal world of the planet. The age of individual exhibits reaches 50 million years. They are well preserved.
- Botany. Rare herbariums, information about ancient plants are in the expositions of the direction.
- Zoology. The expositions consist of numerous zoological collections created on various topics. The department of marine fauna reveals many secrets of the Adriatic. In a huge aquarium, almost all types of invertebrate fish of the local ecosystem are represented.
- Anthropology. A unique visual aid for schoolchildren and students are the elements of expositions associated with samples of the skeletal and muscular systems of humans, birds, and animals. The development of different forms of life, the evolution of mankind is visually represented by interesting elements of the museum.
- Mineralogy. Here you can see minerals, crystals, the remains of meteorites, precious stones that adorn the crowns of great people, participating in the magical rites of ancient people. Various geological epochs of the planet, as if alive, remind visitors of the powerful energy still hidden in its depths.
- Ethnography. Culture, life of the population are presented with special attention, respect for the life of their ancestors. The museum has a library where you can read the primary sources of many scientific publications.
The work of the museum is organized on the basis of not only permanent expositions, but also through the organization of thematic exhibitions, seminars, conferences, temporary expositions. Most often they are held in conjunction with other social events. Now the museum is creating opportunities for virtual visits via the Internet. It's important, interesting, useful. But to see the ancient inhabitants of the planet in reality, especially when traveling with children, is much more interesting.
Opening hours and ticket prices
The museum, which is easy to find on a map of the city of Venice, is located on Santa Croce, 1730, Salizzada del Fondaco dei Turchi. The day off is Monday. The standard office hours are from 9:00 to 17:00 daily. The ticket price is € 8. For children under 14, disabled people, pensioners, students, the ticket price is 5.5 €. Children under 5 years old visit all museum expositions for free.
Where is it located and how to get there
It is best to combine a canal trip. Get off at the stop next to the famous mansion, visit the museum, walk along the streets nearby or take part in an organized tour. During the trip, you can always take part in their implementation. At the same time, it is surprising to learn that in ancient times, in the place where water now rules, a huge coniferous forest, shrouded in impenetrable swamps, rustled. People used it to create a city on the water. The history of this process is carefully kept by the precious exhibits of the Natural History Museum of Venice.