Tecnoparco Museo di Archimede — Attraction in Syracuse

This was horrible!!! It was really hard to find, no signposts or indicators and when we got there we were greeted by this guide who was counting the minutes left until 2 pm when she could go home. The park itself was hugely dissapointing , the machines were not accurately constructed, it looked like they were built in a hurry. Do yourself a favor and avoid this place!!!!!!!

Minutes after posting this review I got reply from the owner, here it is: Response from the owner 50 minutes ago: Our guides are always very willing to give explanations and to demonstrate the operation of the machines without any haste and this is demonstrated by the numerous positive reviews. Do yourself a favor not to go to places of culture because you do not have the skills to understand what you see !!!"

I think the phrasing speaks for itself.

If we are to go into details here are a few more "fun" facts about this place: after paying for the tickets we did not get actual tickets or a receipts, it was just written down in a plain notebook( I bet it adds up on a good day); the tablet provided was diabolical; it was old, the screen was small, the maximum volume barely allowed one to hear anything and it kept freezing; -even if the guides were willing to show how the machines worked they would have a hard time doing it as most of the machines are either not operational or simply not accurately built as that would have taken effort, research and determination; I chose this place of "culture" after doing extensive research on Archimedes; I happen to have a Masters degree in engineering so I know a few things about the way the machines in your park are supposed to work. I travelled a huge distance to see what I expected to be a tribute to the life and achievements of a brilliant man but what I found was a disgrace. This is nothing short of a scam and should not be associated with the image...

Found it a couple of days ago under "attractions" on Google maps for the region. And it is definitely a gem you should visit. Maps directions are correct! I don't know about parking. I just passed the entrance on the left side, ended up on a tennis club parking. I don't think you can do that during high season. Entering, I was personally welcomed by one of the highly engaged and knowledgeable ladies. Checking out what language would comfort! There were at least Italian, English, German. Eventually more? It's a round course with your guide. You might enter a tiny group of 3,4,5 in the middle - but continuing the course as you like. The models in the Technopark are working, they are in life size and your guide shows how they work. Some you can try on your own. Of course, a catapult and a few others are restricted 😏. Ask your questions anytime, no bother. After the course, you can still stroll around and double check anything of your interest. There were school classes in between and I just thought how lucky they are to see physics live. Lot's of things in books become reality! My favourite, I never heard about, was this "aqua clock" thing. Amazing! Yes, visiting here...

When visiting Sicily, I knew I wanted to see Mt. Etna and anything related to Plato or Archimedes. This museum did not show up when I did my initial search, but eventually it came up somewhere, and I'm so glad it did, because our whole family agreed that it was one of the top highlights of the entire vacation. (Even our teenager daughter who "hates math" had a great time with the catapults and solar oven.) The exhibits are all interactive, fun and fascinating. The staff are extremely friendly, knowledgeable and engaging. For anyone remotely interested in mathematics, history, or the intersection of the two, this outdoor museum is an absolute must. Though it's a fraction of the size (and price) of the space museum in Toulouse, France, it's the only comparable experience I can think of, and all inspired by one man's astonishing...