The Natural History Museum in Venice, also known as the Museo di Storia Naturale di Venezia, occupies the historic Fontego dei Turchi at Santa Croce 1730. It is a natural history museum, and a visit here is a good way to spend time indoors while exploring the city's surroundings from a different angle.
What you will see
The collections cover fossils and minerals, alongside exhibits on the ecology of the Venetian lagoon. Visitors interested in the living world around the city will find displays of local wildlife, and the museum also includes dinosaur skeletons, which tend to draw attention from younger visitors and families.
The building and the visit
The museum is housed in the Fontego dei Turchi, a historic building, so the setting is part of the experience. Because the exhibits range from ancient rock formations to the lagoon's present-day wildlife, the visit suits a wide range of interests, from geology to local ecology.
Around the museum
Santa Croce is one of the quieter districts of Venice, and the museum makes a natural stop when you are exploring the city beyond its best-known squares. If you want to plan ahead, the museum can be reached by telephone at +39 041 275 0206.
- Fossils, minerals and lagoon ecology exhibits
- Dinosaur skeletons and local wildlife displays
- A historic building in the Santa Croce district