Civico Museo di Storia Naturale

About

The Museo Civico di Storia Naturale di Milano, founded in 1838, stands as Milan’s oldest civic museum and is a cornerstone of the city’s scientific heritage. Located in the historic Indro Montanelli Garden on Corso Venezia, the 19th‑century Neo‑Romanesque building is home to five permanent sections that span the breadth of Earth’s history: Mineralogy, Paleontology, Natural History of Man, Invertebrate Zoology, and Vertebrate Zoology. Each section offers a rich narrative—from mineral specimens that include the world’s largest sulfur crystal and an impressive 8,000‑carat Brazilian topaz, to the Paleontology wing where visitors can marvel at dinosaur skeletons such as the Spinosaurus snout, the pygmy elephant skeletons from Sicily, and the rare Scipionyx samniticus cast. In the Natural History of Man section, an admirable public‑art installation of the Australopithecus afarensis skeleton demonstrates human evolution, while the Vertebrate Zoology wing showcases an extensive collection of taxidermied animals, complete skeletons, and striking full‑scale dioramas that bring ecosystems to life. Designed to educate and inspire, the museum’s layout encourages visitors to explore the intricate connections between geology, biology, and anthropology. A landmark destination for researchers, students, and curious travelers alike, the museum offers an engaging, multi‑disciplinary experience that celebrates the natural world’s past, present, and future.

At a glance

• Typical visit: about 3 hours