The museum houses a complete skeleton of a blue whale, one of the few displayed in Europe.
The collection includes mineral specimens collected by the Medici family during the Renaissance.
The site was originally founded as a Carthusian monastery dedicated to the 'Valley of Grace'.
The museum features a specialized aquarium section dedicated to the freshwater fish of the Mediterranean area.
Architectural features of the Certosa, including the monks' cells and the communal refectory, remain preserved as part of the museum layout.
The Natural History Museum of the University of Pisa is housed within the historic Certosa di Calci, a former 14th-century Carthusian monastery. It is one of the oldest science museums in the world, tracing its origins to the 16th-century 'Galleria' of the Medici family. The museum holds an extensive collection of skeletons, including one of the world's largest displays of cetacean (whale) fossils. Its galleries showcase biological, mineralogical, and paleontological specimens within the atmospheric architecture of the restored monastery. Visitors can tour the monks' former living quarters and the monumental cloister alongside the scientific exhibits. The museum serves as a research facility for the University of Pisa, focusing on biodiversity and geological evolution. The site integrates the austerity of its monastic past with centuries of academic scientific inquiry.
The central cloister of the monastery with the mountain range visible in the background.
Allow extra time to walk through the peaceful cloisters and historical monastery courtyards.
Check the museum website for temporary exhibition changes, as the vast collection is often rotated.
Wear comfortable shoes, as the historic stone floors and extensive layout involve significant walking.
Attempting to visit the entire complex in under an hour, as the combined monastic architecture and scientific galleries require more time to appreciate.
Closed on Mondays during the winter season.
