History of Science Museum
History of Science Museum
museums
Piazza dei Giudici, 50122 Firenze, Italia
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This museum is located in the Palazzo Castellani, formerly the Altafronte castle that dates from the XII century. The Florence museum of the history of science is one of the most important museums of this type in the world. The over 1500 items on display come essentially from the Medici (first floor) and Lorraine (second floor); they were brought over from other historic places such as the Palazzo Vecchio, the Uffizi, etc. The instruments embrace all fields of science and bear witness to the extraordinary role that science played in Florence through the centuries. There are astrolabes (the oldest is Arabian, from the XI century); armillary spheres (the one that belonged to Ferdinando I de’ Medici is absolutely colossal), quadrants, mechanical calculators, sundials, and compasses. The section dedicated to Galileo Galilei’s instruments is particularly famous and fascinating. There is the lens he used to discover Jupiter’s moons in 1610 which he christened, as the “Medici planets” as well as two telescopes from his laboratory. The museum collection continues with the instruments used by the Accademia del Cimento, the first European scientific society that was founded in Florence in 1657, the earliest microscopes, barometers, magnetic, electrostatic, pneumatic and hydrostatic instruments, surgical and obstetrical instruments, weights, etc. The museum’s research center and library are still active today.
museums
Piazza dei Giudici, 50122 Firenze, Italia
Show on map
This museum is located in the Palazzo Castellani, formerly the Altafronte castle that dates from the XII century. The Florence museum of the history of science is one of the most important museums of this type in the world. The over 1500 items on display come essentially from the Medici (first floor) and Lorraine (second floor); they were brought over from other historic places such as the Palazzo Vecchio, the Uffizi, etc. The instruments embrace all fields of science and bear witness to the extraordinary role that science played in Florence through the centuries. There are astrolabes (the oldest is Arabian, from the XI century); armillary spheres (the one that belonged to Ferdinando I de’ Medici is absolutely colossal), quadrants, mechanical calculators, sundials, and compasses. The section dedicated to Galileo Galilei’s instruments is particularly famous and fascinating. There is the lens he used to discover Jupiter’s moons in 1610 which he christened, as the “Medici planets” as well as two telescopes from his laboratory. The museum collection continues with the instruments used by the Accademia del Cimento, the first European scientific society that was founded in Florence in 1657, the earliest microscopes, barometers, magnetic, electrostatic, pneumatic and hydrostatic instruments, surgical and obstetrical instruments, weights, etc. The museum’s research center and library are still active today.