Photo: Didier Descouens, CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons
At a glance
History and description
Museo di Storia Naturale di Venezia (English: Natural History Museum of Venice) is a museum of natural history housed in Fondaco dei Turchi, located on the Grand Canal, Venice, Italy. Its collections relate mainly to the natural history of the Venetian lagoon that surrounds the city. Today it is one of the 11 venues managed by the Fondazione Musei Civici di Venezia. It is rated the best natural history museum in Italy by TripAdvisor.
Building and history
The museum is located in the Fondaco dei Turchi, originally built in the 13th century as a palazzo for the Pesaro family. It is built in the Venetian Byzantine style, being originally used as a trading depot for goods from the East.
In 1381, the building was given to the lord of Ferrara, Niccolò II d'Este. In 1621, it became the fondaco (or fontego) for Turkish merchants, a place for them to live and do business, until 1838. From 1865, the building was extensively restored. After this work, it housed the Museo Correr and then the Natural History Museum from 1969.
Museum
The Natural History Museum in Venice was founded in 1923 to hold and display a number of scientific collections from the Museo Correr and the Istituto Veneto di Scienze, Lettere ed Arti, among others. This has subsequently been expanded, with around two million objects in the collection. These cover botanical, entomological, and zoological specimens, fossils, and ethnographic collections. The library has over 40,000 books.
The museum is run by the Fondazione Musei Civici Venezia (MUVE).
Text from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia, under CC BY-SA 4.0. Full article: «Museo di Storia Naturale di Venezia».
Timeline
- 1836Opened
- 1923Founded
People
Events and people from Wikidata (CC0).
Photos
Getting there
Venezia Santa LuciaTrain, nearest
500 m as the crow flies
Museo di Storia Naturale di VeneziaSestiere Santa Croce 1730, 30135 Venezia
San Marcuola "B"100 m
Aeroporto Marco Polo di Venezia7.1 km
Distances are as the crow flies, not walking or driving.
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Nearby
See on the mapMore museums in Veneto
- Free 1st Sunday
- Free 1st Sunday
- UNESCO
Frequently asked questions
Where is Museo di Storia Naturale di Venezia?
Museo di Storia Naturale di Venezia is in Venice, in the province of Venezia (Veneto), Italy. Address: Sestiere Santa Croce 1730, 30135 Venezia. GPS coordinates: 45.44199, 12.32792.
What are the opening hours of Museo di Storia Naturale di Venezia?
According to OpenStreetMap the opening hours are: Oct-May: Tu-Su 09:00-17:00 "last entry 16.00"; Jun-Sep: Tu-Th,Su 10:00-18:00 "last entry 17.00"; Fr-Sa 10:00-20:00 "last entry 19:00". Always check the official website before your visit.
How much does it cost to visit Museo di Storia Naturale di Venezia?
There is an admission charge. Up-to-date prices are on the official website.
How old is Museo di Storia Naturale di Venezia?
Wikidata dates it to 1923.
What else is there to see near Museo di Storia Naturale di Venezia?
Nearby you’ll find: Palazzo Giovanelli (0 m away), Galleria internazionale d'arte moderna (100 m away), Fondaco dei Turchi (100 m away).
Sources and licences
Text. Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Data. Wikidata (CC0); opening hours and contacts OpenStreetMap (ODbL).
Photos. Wikimedia Commons, author and licence on every image.
Credits for the 9 photos
- Fondaco dei Turchi — Didier Descouens, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Actinodon - Rheinland Pfalz Germany Permian - Museo di Storia Naturale di Venezia — DagdaMor, CC BY 4.0
- Anatosaurus foot bone - Alberta Canada Cretaceous - Museo di Storia Naturale di Venezia — DagdaMor, CC BY 4.0
- Ephippus longipennis - Venezia Italy Eocene - Museo di Storia Naturale di Venezia — DagdaMor, CC BY 4.0
- Hoplophoneus mentalis - WRB South Dakota USA Oligocene - Museo di Storia Naturale di Venezia — DagdaMor, CC BY 4.0
- Liaoxiornis delicatus - Liaoning China Cretaceous - Museo di Storia Naturale di Venezia — DagdaMor, CC BY 4.0
- Mesosaurus brasiliensis - Sao Paulo Brazil Permian - Museo die Storia Naturale di Venezia — DagdaMor, CC BY 4.0
- Museo di Storia Naturale di Venezia - Ouranosaurus nigeriensis — Godromil, Public domain
- Ouranosaurus - Museo di Storia Naturale di Venezia — DagdaMor, CC BY 4.0
Updated 28 October 2026. All sources and licences