Milan is a city full of museums of great importance. However, there is a unique museum in Italy of its kind, and among the most important in the world, next to cities such as Tokyo , Munich , London , Paris , Chicago and Philadelphia: it is the Leonardo da Vinci Museum of Science and Technology in Milan. .
History of the Museum of Science and Technology of Milan
It was 1906 when the idea of creating a Milanese museum entirely dedicated to science and technology was born. The idea remained firm due to the war until 1947. On February 15, 1953 , the day in which the fifth centenary of the birth of Leonardo da Vinci was celebrated , the Museum of Science and Technology was inaugurated, with an exhibition of the genius of Da Vinci which was also attended by the President of the Council of Ministers Alcide De Gasperi.
Thanks to donations from important institutions and industrial groups, from FIAT to Eni , from Alfa Romeo to Olivetti and so on, the museum structure expanded very quickly. Today it is composed of three complexes: the main part, in the interior spaces of the Benedictine Convent, which became the Olivetan Monastery, and two external pavilions, one dedicated to air and sea transport and one for rail transport . The Toti submarine is on display outside .
What can be found at the Museum of Science and Technology in Milan
All the sections of the museum are distinct from each other and all analyze the inventions that have changed our lives from a technical and scientific point of view. These include the phone – between the various exhibits there is also a Pantelegraph designed in 1856 by Giovanni Caselli – the television , the radio , the photography , the music , the press , the ‘ watch , the’ jewelery , the ‘ Information and even astronomy .
In fact, the museum contains finds such as a Focault pendulum that empirically demonstrates the rotation of the earth, but the most amazing thing is the presence of a fragment of lunar rock , donated in 1973 . The museum entrance there is also Queen Margherita , a large plant that was inaugurated in 1895 in the presence of Queen Margherita and King Umberto .
In the basement of the museum there is all the part dedicated to foundry , metallurgy , energy and recycling . In this part of the museum there are also several laboratories , to touch some of these technological evolutions.
The railway pavilion narrates over a hundred years of transport evolution starting from the mid-19th century: here it is possible to admire horse-drawn trams that seem to be about to leave, locomotives and trains .
Finally, the air-naval pavilion, often used for events, is dominated by the Ebe training ship , the prow of the Polar Star and assault vehicles.
Useful information for visiting the Museum
The National Museum of Science and Technology Leonardo da Vinci in Milan is located in via San Vittore 21 and is open from Tuesday to Friday from 9.30 to 17 , while on Saturdays and holidays from 9.30 to 18.30 .
