Museum Fondazione Scienza e Tecnica - Florence

The Fondazione di Scienza e Tecnica is based in via Giusti 29, Florence, in an area of an important building that was built between 1884 and 1891 to host the Istituto Tecnico Toscano, later known as Istituto Tecnico Statale Galileo Galilei. The Istituto was founded in 1850 by Leopold II Grand Duke of Tuscany  and was then directed by Filippo Corridi, with the aim of preparing and training the two most researched professional figures back then.

In Fondazione di Scienza e Tecnica there is the Cabinet of Physics, with over 3,000 machines and appliances preserved in their original furnishings.

The Cabinet represents the largest collection in Italy and one of the most complete in Europe with regards to the scientific instruments of the second half of the 19th century, spanning from mechanics, acoustics and thermology to optics, electricity and magnetism.

The Cabinet of Natural History holds a wide collection that boasts over 47.000 rich and heterogeneous. samples and which includes minerals, zoological, botanical and paleontological finds, as well as naturalistic models.

Inside Fondazione Scienza e Tecnica there is also a library with about 30.000 works – books, booklets and periodicals – which represent the Italian and European technical and scientific knowledge of the nineteenth century.

The Planetarium, with over 10.000 visitors every year, is a privileged place for students, families, astronomy enthusiasts and for those who wish to deepen their knowledge and understanding of celestial phenomena.

Opening Times

Collections: from September 15 th to June 14 th: Monday to Friday 9am – 4pm; Saturday and Sunday 9am – 6pm; from June 15 th to September 14 th: Tuesday to Sunday 10am – 1pm.   Last entry is half an hour before closing.

Planetarium and Workshops: from October to May Sundays afternoon; upon reservation.

The translation of the whole Section has been carried out thanks to the contribution of Fondazione CR Firenze.