The «Museo di Storia Naturale» of the University of Florence was founded in 1775 by the Granduke Pietro Leopoldo, although its Botanical Garden reaches back to 1545. Its collections count over 8 million specimens by now. Therefore it is the most outstanding natural history museum in Italy, and one of the most praised in the world. The six sections of the Museum, which are set in one of the world's most beautiful centers, keep jewels of extraordinary value: from the 16th century herbariums and the precious 18th century wax models, to the fossil skeletons of elephants and the collections of butterflies; from great tormaline crystals to Aztec finds; from great wooden sculptures to the world's greatest flower. And all this in the wonderful blend of history, art and science.
Museo di Storia Naturale of the University of Florence
