The Museo Civico di Zoologia goes back to the end of the 17th Century. However it was only in 1932 that the Museum was transferred to Villa Borghese. As late as 1998, it was a part of the Zoological Gardens in Rome but it has now been moved. The modern idea of a Naturalist Museum is not only based nowadays on showing material but also on its preservation, research, instruction and more generally speaking on its scientific propagation.
The enormous amount of material preserved today (about 5 million examples, ranging from a small beetle smaller than a millimeter to a whale measuring about 15 meters) was mainly taken from the earlier collection of the Archiginnasio Pontificio, as well as universities and the nearby Zoo. These collections alone represent a heritage of great historical and scientific value. Apart from important collections of Molluscs, Insects, Birds and Mammals, the Museum also houses precious collections of the Roman countryside with species that have currently disappeared from our territory.
A large part of these specimens are preserved for scientific purposes, whereas some of them are used for exhibitions and didactics. In this way, certain important subjects of biology are thus communicated to a wide public through this material. An in-depth renewal has commenced with their display. Over 1,000 square meters of the ‘Old Museum’ have been set up again according to modern criteria, according to their Bio diversity.
The enormous variety of living creatures can be observed along the exhibition. It starts with the importance of sex in the animal world and ends by explaining the adaptations in strange environments and the life in those ecosystems which have an elevated Bio diversity. Visits are organized along multi sensorial and interactive stations as well as three-dimensional reconstructions, suited to a public of any age.
Some halls, however still have ‘old’ arrangements focusing on a vast number of specimens, such as the two Arrigoni degli Oddi halls, the hall with the mammals and the great hall with the skeletons. These are, or will shortly be, facilitated thanks to a series of explanatory structures. The Museum foresees a series of activities that will transform it into a modern centre of naturalist culture to keep the citizens’ interest in the natural sciences alive, as is the case of the Civic museums in other Italian cities.
Among the different services offered, there are a number of guided visits, also on special subjects and a book-shop with books on nature for children, handled by the Coop. Myosotis. The educational section of the Museum is also responsible for educational activities for compulsory schools, thanks to the two educational and training laboratories for teachers and operators in the zoological field.
Every Thursday from November to June, in the conference Hall loggia, weekly meetings are held called ‘Thursday at the Museum’ and topical subjects and events regarding the world of natural biology are explained by actual protagonists of the Natural Sciences: research workers, documentary people or representatives of Naturalist Associations.
Together with the C. N. R., the Science on Line site has been activated – a window on site, connecting citizens to the Scientific Community via forums, cards on the subject, news on seminaries, links to sites where there are scientific activities, etc.
An information facility provides specific information on preservation and the current laws in force for animal species (Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday from 10 a.m. to 12 a.m. telephone 06.3216586 and 06.3221031. Otherwise send an e-mail to: info). The Museum offers its Conference Hall to Bodies and Associations. It has about 100 seats and ultra modern equipment for meetings and seminaries. You will have to apply to the Museum address for the information.
A cartoon called IL FANTASMA DEL MUSEO (the Museum Ghost) has also been produced to re-launch the Museum.
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Via Ulisse Aldrovandi, 18 (Villa Borghese)
Tel. 06 3221031 - 06 3216586
HOURS:
Open every day (excluding Mondays) from 9a.m. to 5p.m. |  |
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