Naturkundemuseum Venedig – Fontego dei Turchi am Canal Grande

Since 1923, the Fontego dei Turchi has been the home of the Giancarlo Ligabue Natural History Museum of Venice. This palace on the Grand Canal, built in the 13th century by Giacomo Palmieri, was originally a noble residence; later it became a diplomatic space for the Serenissima and eventually a hub for Turkish merchants in Venice. In 1859 it became municipal property and underwent a major restoration which brought back its original appearance. Today the Fontego dei Turchi is considered one of the most distinctive and photogenic façades along the Grand Canal.

Inside, the Museum holds over two million specimens including fossils, shells, minerals, animal skeletons, entomological collections, herbariums and naturalistic materials from around the world. Highlights include a full whale skeleton, a giant Nile crocodile, the 19th-century naturalistic Wunderkammer, the section on evolution, and immersive areas dedicated to Earth’s ecosystems and natural phenomena. The Museum also hosts interactive stations and scientific learning spaces to understand biodiversity, climate change and the relationship between humans and the environment.

Who is it for? Families with children, students and lovers of natural sciences, anyone who enjoys educational museums, and visitors looking for a different experience than classical art museums — a scientific journey into the evolution of life on Earth.