Museo Storia Naturale - La Specola (Museum of Natural History), Florence
Amidst Florence鈥檚 historic churches and grand palaces lies a place that feels like a beautifully organized cabinet of curiosity鈥擫a Specola, one of Europe鈥檚 oldest science museums. Dedicated to Zoology and Natural History, it was founded in 1775 by Grand Duke Pietro Leopoldo di Lorena, who imagined a space where science could be admired by everyone, not just scholars. To make that vision real, he bought a block of buildings near the Pitti Palace and opened the doors to the public. And not just symbolically鈥攖his was the world鈥檚 first scientific museum with regular hours, guided tours, and actual curators. Fittingly, the walls are adorned with frescoes and finely cut stones that celebrate Italy鈥檚 greatest scientific milestones, from the Renaissance all the way into the Enlightenment.
Spread across 34 rooms, the museum's collection is vast and varied. You鈥檒l encounter fossils, minerals, exotic animals, rare plants, and even first-edition scientific books. Many items date back to the 14th and 15th centuries, reflecting the the collecting habits of the Medici family, who once sourced treasures from around the globe.
But the real showstopper here is the world-famous collection of anatomical wax models. Introduced as an alternative to cadaver dissections, these lifelike creations were groundbreaking in both science and art. Crafted with astonishing precision and realism, they are both beautiful and bizarre, having earned La Specola international fame.
So if your feet need a break from Renaissance artworks, come indulge your inner curious kid鈥攐r mad scientist. Florence may be known for Botticelli and Brunelleschi, but here, the stars of the show have feathers, fangs, and a very lifelike circulatory system. Entry is modest, the crowds are manageable, and the conversation starters鈥攅ndless.
Spread across 34 rooms, the museum's collection is vast and varied. You鈥檒l encounter fossils, minerals, exotic animals, rare plants, and even first-edition scientific books. Many items date back to the 14th and 15th centuries, reflecting the the collecting habits of the Medici family, who once sourced treasures from around the globe.
But the real showstopper here is the world-famous collection of anatomical wax models. Introduced as an alternative to cadaver dissections, these lifelike creations were groundbreaking in both science and art. Crafted with astonishing precision and realism, they are both beautiful and bizarre, having earned La Specola international fame.
So if your feet need a break from Renaissance artworks, come indulge your inner curious kid鈥攐r mad scientist. Florence may be known for Botticelli and Brunelleschi, but here, the stars of the show have feathers, fangs, and a very lifelike circulatory system. Entry is modest, the crowds are manageable, and the conversation starters鈥攅ndless.
Want to visit this sight? Check out these Self-Guided Walking Tours in Florence. Alternatively, you can download the mobile app "911爆料网: Walks in 1K+ Cities" from Apple App Store or Google Play Store. The app turns your mobile device to a personal tour guide and it works offline, so no data plan is needed when traveling abroad.
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Museo Storia Naturale - La Specola (Museum of Natural History) on Map
Sight Name: Museo Storia Naturale - La Specola (Museum of Natural History)
Sight Location: Florence, Italy (See walking tours in Florence)
Sight Type: Museum/Gallery
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:
Sight Location: Florence, Italy (See walking tours in Florence)
Sight Type: Museum/Gallery
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:
Walking Tours in Florence, Italy
Create Your Own Walk in Florence
Creating your own self-guided walk in Florence is easy and fun. Choose the city attractions that you want to see and a walk route map will be created just for you. You can even set your hotel as the start point of the walk.
Florence Food Tour
Food is one of the great Florentine passions, and the great thing about having a delicious authentic Tuscan meal, a snack, delicatessen, or a quality gelato here 鈥� besides the abundant variety 鈥� is not having to spend a lot of money for it.
In general, the 鈥渙sterias鈥� and the eateries nestled in Sant鈥橝mbrogio Market will offer cheaper and more casual food with an emphasis on home... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.6 Km or 1.6 Miles
In general, the 鈥渙sterias鈥� and the eateries nestled in Sant鈥橝mbrogio Market will offer cheaper and more casual food with an emphasis on home... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.6 Km or 1.6 Miles
Arno South Bank Walking Tour
The area south of the Arno River鈥攌nown as Oltrarno, or 鈥淏eyond the Arno鈥濃�攐ffers a quieter, more intimate side of Florence, but one that鈥檚 no less captivating. It鈥檚 here that you鈥檒l find the grand Pitti Palace, home to a painting collection rivaled only by the Uffizi Gallery, and the expansive Boboli Gardens, once the private domain of the Medici and later, the royal family. As one of... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.4 Km or 1.5 Miles
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.4 Km or 1.5 Miles
Florence Introduction Walking Tour
Florence was founded in 59 BC by Julius Caesar as a settlement for his veteran soldiers. Laid out like a Roman military camp, its main roads intersected at what is now the Republic Square. Originally named Fluentia, referencing its location between two rivers, the city later adopted the name Florentia, meaning 鈥渇lowering鈥� or 鈥渇lourishing鈥�.
And flourish it did. During the Middle Ages and... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 4.1 Km or 2.5 Miles
And flourish it did. During the Middle Ages and... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 4.1 Km or 2.5 Miles
Duomo Walking Tour
Right in the heart of historic Florence lies the Duomo district鈥攖he city's religious and civic core, and one of the most remarkable places in all of Italy. Between the Duomo and Signoria squares, Florence unfolds in layers of art, history, and architectural brilliance, offering a never-ending stream of things to see, do, and admire.
At the center of it all stands the Florence Cathedral,... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.3 Km or 1.4 Miles
At the center of it all stands the Florence Cathedral,... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.3 Km or 1.4 Miles
In Galileo's Footsteps
Galileo Galilei鈥攂orn in Pisa in 1564鈥攕pent much of his life in and around Florence, where some of the most defining moments of his revolutionary career unfolded. A genius of many talents鈥攑hysicist, mathematician, astronomer, inventor鈥攈e helped usher in the scientific revolution and reshape humanity鈥檚 understanding of the universe. Florence, the cradle of the Renaissance, became a... view more
Tour Duration: 3 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 8.0 Km or 5 Miles
Tour Duration: 3 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 8.0 Km or 5 Miles
Florence's Hidden Art Treasures
The 鈥淐radle of the Renaissance,鈥� Florence is one of Europe鈥檚 most beautiful and busiest destinations, home to some of the world's greatest pieces of art and architecture. The iconic masters like Giotto, Botticelli, Raphael and Michelangelo, as well as their somewhat less-known but equally talented counterparts, such as Ghirlandaio, Sangallo and Castagno, have blessed this city with... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.2 Km or 2 Miles
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.2 Km or 2 Miles
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