Museo di Palazzo Poggi
Museo di Palazzo Poggi
4.5
Science MuseumsArt MuseumsHistory Museums
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Tuesday
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Wednesday
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Thursday
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Friday
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Saturday
10:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Sunday
10:00 AM - 6:00 PM
About
Do you know how scientists used to work in the 18th century? The Museum of Palazzo Poggi recreates the laboratories and collections belonging to the Institute of Sciences and Arts, which was once located in the same building. Here you will learn about the first experimental studies conducted by scientists at the Institute. After almost three centuries, the great frescoed rooms house the famous collections dedicated to geography and nautical science, military architecture, physics, natural history, chemistry, human anatomy and obstetrics, together with the collection belonging to the Aldrovandi Museum.
Duration: 1-2 hours
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Neighbourhood: San Vitale
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4.5
4.5 of 5 bubbles381 reviews
Excellent
237
Very good
117
Average
26
Poor
1
Terrible
0

BabyChurro
London, UK27 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Apr 2018 • Solo
This is a nightmare for all women who wish to procreate. There are all of these babies in clay wombs. Breached positions; the umbilical cord wrapped around their throats; both legs sticking out of the womb; twisted limbs.

It is a strong contraceptive. There was also a giant ear.
Written 27 April 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Amanda A
121 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Oct 2019
Apart of one of the university's buildings, this museum surprisingly has a variety of exhibits and sculptures regarding different subjects. My personal favorites were the human anatomy and birth exhibits, along with the natural history section.

Oh, and the ticket is also good for the weapons and fortress museum across the hall!
Written 10 October 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Tomáš Lengyel
Bratislava, Slovakia77 contributions
3.0 of 5 bubbles
Nov 2018 • Couples
Price of the tickets - it was around 6eur per person
We spend there abou 1 and half an hour. Nice museum collection in historical building, large models of war ships - this was the best part for me :)

BUT.......... it is a big problem for non-italian speakers, there is maximum about 20% comments translated to english, i guess
Written 30 November 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

CiaoBella112
Highland, NY74 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
May 2013 • Couples
One of the most interesting museums that my husband and I visited in Bologna was the Museo di Palazzo Poggi in the University district. Housed in a former palace, the décor of the rooms themselves was as interesting as the contents. The ceilings and walls are lavishly decorated with murals and friezes depicting a variety of biblical and mythological scenes.
The museum is organized into six sections: Natural History, Anatomy and Obstetrics, Physics and Chemistry, Military Architecture, Geography and Nautical Science, and The Library. What amazed us was the fact that these collections were hundreds of years old and yet they contained the underpinnings of bodies of knowledge that are still relevant today. It made you truly appreciate why Bologna was nicknamed “La Dotta” (“The Learned”).
To me, the most interesting collection was the Anatomy and Obstetrics. The full-size wax and clay models of fetuses in various positions were absolutely astounding. It was better than any biology class and gave me a whole new appreciation for my ob/gyn! The anatomy room with its depictions of bones, muscles and organs in full size male and female wax models was equally incredible. I did not feel squeamish (as my husband expected) but was truly fascinated by the displays.
We ended up spending the better part of a day at the museum. Students from the University were on hand for any questions, and the displays had English translations. The admission was 3 Euros for an adult – an extremely reasonable price for such quality and diversity.
Written 22 December 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Neil L
Edinburgh, UK725 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Dec 2019
Unsurprisingly, the oldest university in Europe has a fine collection of historical items in a historic building. Particularly interesting to medical, nautical or cartography enthusiasts. You also get something of the university area around. The library and old operating theatre are also remarkable.
Written 16 December 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Nik R
Varna, Bulgaria6,654 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Apr 2017 • Family
This is another of the splendid museums of Bologna. In the beginning of the 18th century it became a part of the University of Bologna as the Institute of Science. The rooms on the ground floor were used for lectures and scientific laboratories and still have the beautiful frescoes on the walls and ceilings that Pellegrino Tibaldi, a native artist of Bologna, painted for Cardinal Giovanni Poggi, one of the brothers who had built the palace.
There are several, very different exhibitions on display - anatomical wax models with a special section of obstetrics; natural history - zoology, geology and botanics; Japanese art; geography with old geographical maps; models of old sailing ships; military section with models of cannons and various kinds of forts and fortifications; the library of the Institute of Science.
The museum is very interesting and encompasses a broad spectrum of themes. The price is exiguous - 5 € per adult and 3 € per kid. It's closed on Mondays, otherwise open 1000-1600, Sat-Sun 1000-1800.
Written 18 February 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

ViktorNovakSK
Bratislava, Slovakia156 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jan 2018 • Couples
We visited this museum because all others was already closed. With each new hall I was impressed more and more. It is a really great museum with pure unique collection. I would even say that the museum shows to us evolution of science it self. Don’t forget to ask the book guide on the entrance!
Written 27 January 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Karen
Scarborough, UK72 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Apr 2017 • Couples
Science part of the university where the rooms are split into different aspect of science, the wax models with skeleton and different layers of wax showing the muscle groups were a must see and so too were the wonderful world globes. The obstetric part was a bit disturbing in the belief at the time that any abnormalities in babies tended to be the hysterical mother's fault! Many translations in english and worthwhile looking at when in the university part of the citt
Written 4 May 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Rachel N
Bogogno, Italy14 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
June 2014 • Solo
This is a really neat museum. It covers many different areas of study including zoology, gynecology, astronomy, nautical and military sciences. I originally went to see the zoological specimens, however, the military science collection was very interesting. It includes 1:1 schematics of cannons, models of 15-17th century ships, and wooden fortification designs. I had never seen anything like it. The entire place is really cool. It really emphasizes how integral Bologna and the University were before and during the Enlightenment. There is a €3 fee.
Written 11 June 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Amos Ber
Tel Aviv, Israel926 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Feb 2020 • Friends
Being an obstetrician I went mainly to see the amazing part of clay figures of different fetal positions in the womb and the teaching instruments used to teach doctors how to deliver. The figures are amazingly realistic. I loved this museum and if you’re a doctor you should visit. It has other parts that for me were less attractive
Written 7 February 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

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