Museo di Palazzo Poggi — Attraction in Bologna

A very uneven museum, populated almost randomly by some things that you would expect: items of science, a rather small library, fleeting displays of university history. Then you will find several rooms dedicated to the completely unexpected and out of place: military architecture, particularly fortress design from the 17th century; rooms full of model ships from the late medieval through about the 18th century. The science items themselves are uneven: a room full of small fossils; a room full of models of fetus development; discussions of some Bologna scientists, but omitting many. This museum is worth a quick look, but it could be much better organized and more...

Museo di Palazzo Poggi is one of Bologna’s most fascinating and unexpected museums. Tucked inside a former university palace, it’s a beautifully curated mix of science, art, anatomy, and exploration. One minute you're looking at Renaissance maps and navigation tools, the next you're in a room full of anatomical wax models or early obstetric training figures—equal parts eerie and amazing.

The space itself is elegant, with frescoed ceilings and grand halls that make the displays feel even more surreal. It’s the kind of place where curiosity leads the way, and every room holds something surprising. A must for anyone who loves history with a twist of the weird...

Really interesting and unique museum. I'd say the maps and the anatomic models are unmissable. The ones showing all the different ways a fetus could be in the womb (or showing doctors hands to demonstrate how to remove the placenta) are creepy but interesting. Same for La Venerina, the sexualised wax figure of a dying pregnant woman, whose skin can be lifted so her inner organs can be examined. It really tells us much about the history of science. When I was there last time they had two interesting exhibits, on the science that inspired the writing of Frankenstein and on...