The museum is named after Enrico Caffi, a priest who founded the collection in 1871.
The collection includes fossils dating back to the Triassic period from the nearby Cene site.
The site was originally a military citadel built by the Visconti family in the 14th century.
The museum preserves a rare complete skeleton of a Woolly Rhino.
It manages significant scientific archives documenting the natural history of Northern Italy.
The exhibit space integrates modern displays within centuries-old stone vaulted ceilings.
The E. Caffi Civic Museum of Natural Sciences is housed in the historic Cittadella complex in Bergamo Alta, dating back to the Visconti era. The museum holds a significant collection of over one million specimens spanning paleontology, mineralogy, and zoology. A centerpiece of the paleontology collection is the skeleton of a prehistoric cave bear found in local Bergamasque caves. The mineralogy section features a diverse array of geological specimens sourced from the Lombardy region and beyond. Its zoological exhibits include preserved specimens representing local Alpine fauna and global biodiversity. The facility maintains active research programs focused on the geology and biological history of the Orobic Alps. The museum structure itself preserves architectural features of the medieval fortress in which it resides.
The arched entrance gate of the Piazza della Cittadella leading into the museum courtyard.
Combine your visit with a walk through the surrounding Cittadella park.
Check the official website for temporary exhibitions, as the museum frequently rotates its fossil displays.
Visit the nearby Archaeological Museum in the same complex to see artifacts from the Roman era.
Do not attempt to park a car in the immediate vicinity, as the entire Cittadella area is a restricted traffic zone.
Closed on Mondays.
