Natural History Museum

The Natural History Museum, located in the prestigious Palazzo Pompei, is one of the main historical and architectural buildings in the city. Commissioned by the Lavezzola family between 1530 and 1550 and designed by the architect Michele Sanmicheli, the palace was donated to the Municipality of Verona in 1833 by Count Alessandro Pompei to house highly valuable scientific collections.

The museum, composed of sixteen exhibition rooms, a library, laboratories, storage areas, and offices, is divided into four main sections: Botany, Geology and Paleontology, Prehistory, Zoology. The museum plays a fundamental role in scientific research and territorial monitoring: among its flagship projects are studies on the presence and spread of microplastics in the Veronese environment; studies on ecological, evolutionary, and geological dynamics of the last underground glacial environments in the Alpine and pre-Alpine areas; and monitoring urban biodiversity and natural areas.

Of great significance are the rich naturalistic collections that date back to the 16th century, evidenced by the presence of dozens of specimens belonging to one of the world's first natural history museums, the Calzolari Museum. Currently, more than five million zoological specimens and about three hundred thousand herbarium sheets allow scientists and enthusiasts to explore and study the rich biological diversity of our country and its evolution over time. Additionally, there are paleontological finds from Bolca, a unique site in the world, and important prehistoric collections that enable increasingly precise reconstruction of the geological and anthropological history of our territory.
 
The museum is also very active in scientific dissemination, both for professionals through the publication of the Museum Bulletin, Memories, and the series dedicated to paleontological research in Bolca, and for the general public with publications and offers of workshops and guided tours for schools and families.

FAQ

Why is the Natural History Museum unique?
It has a flourishing collection of fossils from Bolca in the Val d'Alpone and the museum possesses nearly 3 million specimens.

Are there animals in the Museum?
There are many animals inside: from the smallest, such as insects, to larger ones, with the bear as an example.

What is one of the peculiarities of the Museum's location?
The Museum is housed in a building of great historical and architectural significance: Palazzo Pompei. Built in Renaissance style, it was designed by the architect Michele Sanmicheli.

Is the monument accessible for people with disabilities?
The museum is fully accessible. For visitors with mobility difficulties, the entrance is available from via Museo, 2. The elevator provides direct access to all exhibition floors, and there are some ramps. In some museum rooms, benches are available for possible resting. Inside the museum, there are two accessible paths "Follow FOSSY."

Is it possible to access the monument with animals?
It is possible to access the monument with small dogs exclusively inside appropriate bags (carriers), and with medium and large dogs on a leash and muzzled in the exhibition areas, subject to behavioral assessment of the dog. Guide dogs for the visually impaired, assistance dogs for disabled individuals, and alert dogs (for diabetes, epilepsy, etc.) are always permitted. Dogs are not allowed during guided tours, coffee breaks, set-ups, special temporary exhibitions requiring special maintenance, if female during estrus or pregnancy, and if unwell. To know the complete admission requirements for the site and the responsibilities of those visiting the museum with a dog, we invite you to view the full text of the pet policy attached.