Official Information
Official website: https://www.museogalileo.it/
Online tickets: https://biglietteria.museogalileo.it/?_gl=1*1d9e307*_ga*MTI5MTI4MjIyNy4xNzYzOTAxOTI3*_ga_MR6699DG9Z*czE3NjM5MDE5MjckbzEkZzEkdDE3NjM5MDE5NDEkajQ2JGwwJGgw
Address: Piazza dei Giudici 1, 50122 Firenze (FI), Italy
Map: View on Google Maps
Opening Hours
Typically open daily except Tuesday, roughly 09:30–18:00 (with slightly longer hours on weekends in some seasons); closed a few days per year for holidays. Always confirm current schedule on the official site before visiting.
Museo Galileo, overlooking the Arno just behind the Uffizi, is Florence’s museum of the history of science and one of Europe’s richest collections of scientific instruments. Rather than a dry display of old gadgets, it tells the story of how the Medici and Lorraine grand dukes used science, navigation and astronomy to project power and prestige. The first floors are organised around themed rooms: astronomy, timekeeping, navigation, mathematics, optics and medicine. Early on you encounter the Medici and Lorraine collections of scientific instruments, beautifully crafted in brass and wood, which range from astrolabes and armillary spheres to early microscopes and thermometers. Galileos own instruments are a key draw: you can see two of his surviving telescopes and the original lens through which he observed Jupiter’s moons, as well as geometrical and military compasses he designed. Multimedia stations and digital reconstructions help you visualise what these devices did, from mapping the heavens to supporting artillery calculations. The museum also dives into topics like cartography, globes and the development of precision timekeeping, showing how improved instruments made exploration and modern physics possible. Temporary exhibits often highlight specific themes, such as medicine in Florence or the origins of modern measurement systems. For families and curious adults, the hands-on and interactive stations are a big plus; they let you experiment with optical illusions, understand pendulum motion or explore how early telescopes magnified distant objects. Labels and videos are generally available in multiple languages. Plan on at least 90 minutes if you want more than a quick overview. The museum is indoors and air-conditioned, making it an excellent option for very hot or rainy days, and its central location means you can easily combine it with a walk to the Uffizi, Ponte Vecchio or Santa Croce. For travellers who enjoy mixing art with science and want to understand the intellectual world behind the Renaissance, Museo Galileo offers a fascinating change of pace from churches and painting galleries.