Museum of Natural History, University of Pavia

The Museum of Natural History at the University of Pavia is housed in Palazzo Botta Adorno and displays over 500 specimens organized across zoology, paleontology, and comparative anatomy sections. Multimedia presentations and interactive exhibits help visitors understand the displays and explore the natural world.

Maria Theresa of Austria founded the collection in 1775, beginning with mineral specimens from Vienna. It quickly expanded to become a major scientific collection, growing to over 24,000 items within several years.

The name comes from the Greek word for order, reflecting how the collection organizes nature's diversity through displays and teaching programs. Visitors today experience how these specimens fit into the life of the university and the city around it.

The museum is open from Tuesday to Sunday between 10:00 and 18:00, with final entry at 17:30. It is closed on major public holidays, so it is worth checking ahead if you are planning a visit.

The collection preserves Shanti the Elephant, a specimen presented to the institution by Napoleon Bonaparte in the early 19th century. This remarkable piece reveals the historical connections the university once enjoyed with European rulers.