Renzo Piano's science museum
In the new Le Albere district of Trento, built on the site of a former industrial area near the Adige river, the MUSE, the Museo delle Scienze, is one of the most innovative and visited science museums in Italy. Inaugurated in 2013, it was designed by the architect Renzo Piano, who conceived it as a mirror of the mountains: its profile, with a series of sloping roofs of glass and wood, recalls the peaks and valleys of the surrounding Alps, and the building is built according to principles of energy sustainability.
Inside, the visit is a journey from the peaks to the depths, following the theme of the Alpine environment and life on Earth. Visitors begin at the top floor, dedicated to the glaciers and the high mountains, and descend through the floors devoted to biodiversity, the sustainability of the Alps, the history of life and the evolution of man, down to the basement, where the dinosaurs await, with skeletons and reconstructions, including a dinosaur found in the Dolomites. The most spectacular feature is the large central void, the "Big Void", where dozens of stuffed animals and skeletons of the Alpine fauna, from eagles to chamois, seem to float in the air, suspended by thin cables. The museum also has a tropical greenhouse recreating a mountain rainforest of Tanzania, interactive laboratories for children and adults, and the "FabLab". Outside, the Le Albere district has a large park along the Adige.
Tip: the MUSE is perfect for families and rainy days; allow at least three hours, and check the programme of workshops and events.
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