In Trento, not far from the historic centre, you’ll find Muse – Museo delle Scienze, opened in 2013. It is one of the most innovative science museums in Italy, both for its approach to the subject, and for the incredible building housing the collection.
The beauty of Renzo Piano’s project
Let’s start with the museum building that welcomes visitors. The Muse, as well as the whole ‘Le Albere’ neighbourhood all around it, was designed by superstar architect Renzo Piano. Its angular and linear shape is meant to recall that of the mountains that surround the city. It’s built with strictly sustainable materials, with extensive use of wood and stone.
Visiting the museum, between science and ‘mountains’
The museum has 6 floors, 5 of which are above ground. The exhibition route uses the metaphor of mountains to tell the story of life on our planet. The visit starts from the fourth floor, where we can discover geological and biological elements of the Alpine environment, and even touch a real glacier. On the third floor, life blossoms, with a display about animal and plant species that populate the Alps. The second floor is dedicated to the millenary history of the Dolomites, truly unique in the world in terms of geopaleontological characteristics and landscape.
To leap into the past you’ll have to descend to the first floor – a spiral structure invites the visitor to enter the world of prehistory, from the Neanderthal man to Homo sapiens. Then, it’s time to move on to the ground floor for a sensorial discovery dedicated to the youngest visitors – Maxi Ooh! is a space for children between the ages of 0 and 5 years. There, they can move around various protected environments, experimenting, playing and testing their feelings.
However, the most spectacular part of the Muse is perhaps the basement, with a fossil gallery and the skeleton of a whale suspended above the heads of visitors. That is not all – on the western side of the museum, projected outwards like a large glass splinter, you’ll notice the tropical greenhouse. Inside, it is possible to visit a reproduction of Tanzania’s Udzungwa Mountains rainforest, a centre of biodiversity and endemism of Eastern Tropical Africa.
The location of the Muse is particularly strategic, and it is possible to use it as a starting (or end) point for an itinerary around other areas of the city of Trento. In our article ‘What to see in Trento’ you can find some tips on what to see in the city, and if you are interested make sure you also click this link about its Christmas markets.
Where to park in Trento, near the Muse
The Muse has a paid underground car park, where you can leave your car. A short distance away (about 10-15 minutes on foot) there is also a free public parking (via Monte Baldo – P8), connected to the city centre by a special shuttle (NP).
Muse Opening Times
The science museum is open from Tuesday to Friday from 10.00 am to 6.00 pm, and on Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays from 10.00 am to 7.00 pm. The full ticket costs 11 euros, reduced tickets are 9 euros, and there are discounts for families with children up to 18 years. It is also possible to purchase only access to Maxi Ooh! for 2 euros, for an adult and a child.
