Natural Sciences Museum of Voghera

English translation

The Natural Sciences Museum of Voghera was established in 1971, when a small group of friends with a passion for paleontology and mineralogy brought together their private collections in order to make them accessible to the public. This led to the founding of the Voghera Geo-Paleontological Group, which began promoting knowledge of geological eras and providing educational support to schools.

The educational programs of the Civic Natural Sciences Museum “G. Orlandi” of Voghera cover a wide range of topics, from paleontology to zoology, from botany to renewable energy, addressing both local aspects and broader, more general themes.

The Civic Natural Sciences Museum of Voghera hosts numerous and extensive collections covering various fields.

Zoology Section

The section is overseen by the museum curator, Francesco Gatti.

The zoology hall boasts a substantial ornithological collection, recently enriched with new and important donations. Visitors can observe specimens such as the greater flamingo (Phoenicopterus roseus), grey heron (Ardea cinerea), Eurasian bittern (Botaurus stellaris), and numerous species of waterfowl; diurnal birds of prey such as the white-tailed eagle (Haliaeetus albicilla), common buzzard (Buteo buteo), and common kestrel (Falco tinnunculus); nocturnal birds of prey including the long-eared owl (Asio otus), little owl (Athene noctua), scops owl (Otus scops), and barn owl (Tyto alba); as well as the European green woodpecker (Picus viridis), common kingfisher (Alcedo atthis), and numerous waders such as the black-winged stilt (Himantopus himantopus), northern lapwing (Vanellus vanellus), European golden plover (Pluvialis apricaria), grey plover (Pluvialis squatarola), and ruff (Philomachus pugnax).

This hall also displays other vertebrates, including fish, amphibians, and reptiles preserved in alcohol, as well as taxidermied mammals such as the European badger (Meles meles), red fox (Vulpes vulpes), and stone marten (Martes foina). Part of the hall is dedicated to invertebrates, including small scorpions, freshwater crayfish, mollusks, and insects.

Paleontology Section

The paleontology section is curated by Dr. Simona Guioli.

Paleontology was the first section to be established. It includes an introductory area and two additional areas displaying fossil remains of invertebrates and vertebrates from the local territory. Although there are also specimens from around the world, it is important to note that some of the local finds are of particular significance. One example is the humerus of a plesiosaur discovered near Zavattarello (PV); this is the only known remain of these large Mesozoic marine reptiles found in Italy (with the exception of a few vertebrae described in 1884 and found in Cesuna, Vicenza, which were never cited again). Another highly significant find is a female skull of a giant deer (megaceros) from the Quaternary Po Valley alluvial deposits; this skull belonged to a large, now-extinct deer species whose males had antlers spanning more than three meters. Another notable specimen is a fragment of antler belonging to an extinct species of elk known as the “long-antlered elk,” also from the Quaternary Po Valley alluvial deposits. The presence of this species in this area is noteworthy for two reasons: first, it represents the southernmost record in Europe (these animals probably never crossed the Po River); second, in Italy it has been reported only here and in Ranica (Bergamo).

Mineralogy Section

The section is curated by Dr. Simona Guioli.

The mineralogy and lithology collections are particularly rich, comprising 221 specimens on display—enhanced by a deliberately simple exhibition design—as well as approximately 1,800 samples preserved in the museum’s storage facilities. All systematic classes are well represented by minerals from various geological localities around the world, some of which were acquired through donations from important collectors. As part of the educational programs for schools, and in order to fulfill the museum’s teaching objectives, selected specimens can be handled directly; other minerals are of considerable scientific importance because they are rare, originate from closed mines, or possess particular chemical and physical characteristics. Future projects include the creation of a mineralogy teaching laboratory, the production of scientific posters on specific topics, and the development of a detailed cataloguing project for the preserved samples.

Botany Section

The botany section was established with the museum’s recent reopening. It is still being set up and is therefore not yet complete.

At present, it features a rich mycological collection, displaying a wide variety of species ranging from well-known ones such as Boletus edulis (commonly known as porcini) and the famous Amanita muscaria, recognized by its characteristic red color with white spots, to rarer and more unusual species such as Clathrus ruber. The collection can also serve as a reference point for anyone interested in learning which mushrooms are edible and which are toxic.