In the heart of the magnificent city of Florence, this museum, commonly called the Florence Museum of Science History, is filled with scientific tools and instruments used from the Renaissance to the 20th century.

Science enthusiasts, and other Gyro Gearlooses of all ages, will appreciate the riches of this museum. As will those who are not necessarily passionate about science or invention, but whose curiosity will surely be piqued by the phantasmagorical wonders of this museum!

With friends or family, this museum will allow you to learn more about the work of Galileo Galilei, better known in France as Galilée.

What to see at the Galileo Museum in Florence?

The museum is visited on 3 floors as follows:

On the 1st floor

This floor is dedicated to the Medici collections, where you will discover the instruments that Galileo used for his research such as: thermometers from the Accademia del Cimento, microscopes, terrestrial and celestial globes, a giant armillary sphere and meteorological instruments.

Some creations of the famous scientist are also exhibited, including his telescopes. For it was Galileo who invented the astronomical telescope that made it possible to observe the sky and space like never before. The lenses he had invented allowed magnification up to 6 times without the image being distorted. And all this in 1609, not bad for the time!

On the 2nd floor

This floor is dedicated to the Lorraine family collections, where you will discover obstetrical wax models, the chemistry cabinet of Grand Duke Pietro Leopoldo and some machines used to explain and demonstrate fundamental physical laws.

On the 3rd floor

This is where the library is located, which contains no less than 150,000 works on history and science, including 5,000 ancient books.

Here are the different themes covered at the museum

• Astronomy
• Calculating instruments
• Chemistry and Pharmacy
• Drawing instruments
• Electricity and Magnetism
• Galileo's instruments
• Geography and Cartography
• Space measurement
• Time measurement
• Weights and measures
• Machines and mechanisms
• Medicine and Biology
• Meteorology
• Optics
• Pneumatics

Why visit the Galileo Museum in Florence?

On the banks of the Arno river, the museum is located in an ancient 11th century fort, on the city ramparts. Architecture, photography and history enthusiasts will appreciate it.

Also to see on the ground floor of the Galileo Museum in Florence: the various exhibitions presented throughout the year on the history of science, where connections are made between science, technology and art.

Educational laboratories give visitors the opportunity to interact with the exhibited works. So that scientific themes remain accessible to everyone.

You will discover the telescope with which Galileo discovered the lunar mountains and Jupiter's satellites in 1609! But also, the very first mercury barometer dating from 1634.

Unusual detail

One of the scientist Galileo's fingers, the middle finger, is in the museum. It was separated from the famous scientist's body in the 18th century before his bones were placed in the family crypt.