The Museo della Scienza e della Tecnologia "Leonardo da Vinci" is the largest science and technology museum in Italy, and is dedicated to Italian painter and scientist Leonardo da Vinci. It was opened on 5 February 1953, inaugurated by Prime Minister of Italy, Alcide De Gasperi.
This museum, in the ancient monastery of San Vittore al Corpo of
Milan, is divided in
seven main departments:
- Materials
- Transport
- Energy
- Communication
- Leonardo da Vinci, Art & Science
- New Frontiers
- Science for young people
All this departments have also some laboratories especially for
children and young students. The Transport section in made by four
different parts: air, rail, water and Submarine Enrico
Toti-S-506.
Materials
Section
The Materials section treats the life cycle of modern products
from raw materials to recycling. Specific sections are dedicated to
polymeric and synthesis materials and to the basic chemical
manufacturing. There is also a metal section that
illustrates the metal extraction and processing techniques and
exhibits the first electric arc furnace for melting steel invented
in 1898 by Ernesto Stassano.
Transports
Section
The transport section is divided in four different sections:
- The Air transport section exhibits several airplanes
including a Farman 1909 replica and an original Macchi MC 205 V
used by the Regia Aeronautica Militare Italiana during the Second
World War. There are also several modern military aircraft like an
Italian Fiat G.91, a North American F-86K and a Republic F-84F
Thunderstreak.
- The Rail Transport section is sited in a pavilion from
the 1906 Expo with an added reconstruction of a late 19th-century
railway station facade. The collection exhibits vehicles from 19th
and 20th century with a particular attention for the historical
public transport of Lombardy.
- The Water transport section is mainly characterized by
the command bridge of the transatlantic liner Conte Biancamano and
the entire brig Ebe launched in 1921. Also exposed are a slow
running torpedo (or Maiale) and an explosive punt (1940)
both used by the Italian Royal Navy in the Second World War.
- The last section is dedicated to Toti submarine S-506 built by
Italian shipbuilders after the second world war for the Italian
Navy and launched in 1967.
Energy
Section
The Energy section is dedicated to energy sources and device. In
this part of the museum there are the Margherita thermoelectric
power station (1895) and an oil industry/petrochemistry
section.
Communication Section
The communication section is divided in three different
areas:
- The Astronomy section shows several antique astronomic
and topographical instruments including two celestial and earth
globe of 17th century, the Salmoiraghi refracting telescope and a
Foucault pendulum.
- The Telecommunication section is dedicated to all form
of modern era communication from telegraph to
telephone and
wireless communication, and from radio to the modern
television with a global view of the technical history of Italian
television.
- The Sound section shows main technologies for recording
and reproducing sound from the 19th century to the modern
times.
Leonardo da Vinci,
Art & Science Section
One of the most characteristics section of the museum is the
Leonardo da Vinci, Art & Science area. This department of
the museum is divided in four parts:
- The Jewelery collection shows precious objects from stones and
gems to metals including gold and ivory jewelry.
- The Leonardo da Vinci section exhibits many Leonardo Machine
reproduced from DaVinci drawings like an hydraulic saw, a spinning
machine, a flying machine or the Leonardo’s Tank. The models of the
collection are the fruit of a reinterpretation, by a group of
expert, which has translated and completed his drawings.
- The Horology collection shows the evolution of watchmaking and
shows several pendulums, ancient clocks, personal watches and tower
mechanisms.
- The Musical Instruments section exhibits instruments from 17th
to 20th centuries. A reconstruction of a lutemaker’s workshop from
the 17th century is exposed in this part of the museum.
Gallery
See also
- List of museums in Milan
- List of science museums in the World
External
links
