The Museo di Storia Naturale provides a range of adventures in the world of nature. There are many spectacular dioramas, over a hundred installations created with meticulous precision, simulating a range of natural habitats.
This is the oldest civic museum in the city, and one of Italy’s most important natural history museums. Its story begins in 1838, the year in which it received in bequest the collections by botanist Giorgio Jan and Milanese naturalist Giuseppe De Cristoforis. Up until the early 20th century, it was the only location in the city for people interested in the science of nature.
In 1844, it was opened to the public on the site of the ex-convent, Convento di San Maria in Via Circo, and then in 1863, it was transferred to the rooms of the Palazzo Dugnani. It was only between the end of the 18th and beginning of the 19th century that it was moved to its current location in the Giardini Pubblici di Porta Venezia (Porta Venezia Public Gardens). Its building was one of the first constructed in the park.
The museum’s exhibition space totals about 5,500 square metres. Exhibits are in the field of mineralogy, palaeontology, zoology, and the natural history of mankind.
One hall is completely dedicated to dinosaurs, with a series of displays illustrating their origin, evolution and biology. One of the most spectacular of these exhibits is the large pliosaurus hanging from the ceiling of hall 6.