Museums, Sightseeing

Astronomical Museum in the Brera District of Milan

Posted on by Anna
Muzeum Astronomiczne w dzielnicy Brera, muzeum i obserwatorium astronomiczne w Mediolanie
01
Dec

In the heart of Milan, at Palazzo di Brera, the same building that houses the famous Pinacoteca di Brera, there is the remarkable Astronomical Museum. It belongs to the Brera Astronomical Observatory, the oldest scientific institution in Milan, which has been operating for over 250 years. The museum was created through the joint effort of the Observatory (now part of the National Institute of Astrophysics) and the University of Milan.

Rich Astronomical Collection

The museum features an extensive collection of astronomical and scientific equipment used by Observatory researchers over the centuries. From historical instruments from the era of the first Jesuit astronomers, Father Boscovich and Father Lagrange, to modern devices from the 1970s and 1980s.

The museum is divided into two sections: the Instrument Gallery and the Schiaparelli Dome.

Instrument Gallery

Located on the second floor of the Palazzo di Brera, right past the entrance to the Astronomical Observatory. It includes around one hundred scientific and astronomical instruments, such as:

  • Refracting telescopes from the late 18th century: among the first used at the Observatory.
  • Survey rods and portable quadrant: used for mapping Lombardy between 1786 and 1794.
  • Reichenbach’s multiplying wheel (1808): for precisely measuring the positions of celestial bodies.
  • Pillar micrometers: used by Schiaparelli for measuring double stars and mapping Mars.
  • Meyerstein magnetometer (1835): for measuring the direction and intensity of Earth’s magnetic field.
  • Pendulum clocks: for accurately measuring time, crucial for astronomical observations.
  • Transit instruments (19th and 20th centuries): small telescopes for determining the moment a star crosses the meridian.
  • Zeiss spectrograph: for studying the physical and chemical properties of stars.

Schiaparelli Dome

It contains an 8-inch (22 cm) refracting telescope installed by Giovanni Virginio Schiaparelli in 1875. Schiaparelli used it to study double star systems, comets, asteroids, and the planets of the Solar System, including Mars. The telescope and dome were restored in 1999 and returned to their original state.

The telescope, built by the Merz company in Munich between 1862 and 1865, features a clockwork mechanism that tracks the motion of the sky. The dome, constructed in 1873 on the roof of the Palazzo di Brera, is made of masonry with a wooden cylinder covered in copper plates. Note that access to the Schiaparelli Dome may be difficult for those with mobility issues.

Practical information

Location and Access to the Brera Astronomical Museum

The Brera Astronomical Museum is located in the Palazzo di Brera at Via Brera 28, Milan. The building also houses the Astronomical Observatory, of which the museum is a part.

Arriving by Metro

The museum can be reached by metro, getting off at one of the following stations:

  • Montenapoleone – Line 3 (Yellow)
  • Lanza – Line 2 (Green)
  • Cairoli – Line 1 (Red)
  • Duomo – Line 1 (Red) or Line 3 (Yellow)

Arriving by Car

Paid parking is available near the museum.

Additional Tips

Upon entering the Palazzo di Brera, follow the signs leading to the Astronomical Observatory. The museum is located on the second floor.

Keep in mind that the building does not have an elevator, which may be an issue for those with mobility difficulties.

Opening Hours and Days of the Brera Astronomical Museum

The Brera Astronomical Museum is open to visitors during the following days and hours:

Instrument Gallery:

  • Tuesday and Thursday: 1:30 PM to 5:30 PM
  • Sunday: 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM

Schiaparelli Dome:

  • Sunday: 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM

Visits to the Schiaparelli Dome are conducted in groups of up to 7 people for safety reasons.

Ticket Prices and Purchase at the Brera Astronomical Museum

The Brera Astronomical Museum offers two types of tickets: for the Instrument Gallery and the Schiaparelli Dome. Prices vary depending on the day of the week and the chosen attraction.

Instrument Gallery

On Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Sundays:

  • Standard ticket: 6 euros
  • Reduced ticket: 3 euros (for students up to 25 years old, teachers, and caregivers of disabled persons)
  • Free ticket: for children up to 5 years old, journalists, guides, persons with disabilities, ICOM members, INAF staff, and holders of the Lombardy Museums subscription

Schiaparelli Dome

On weekends (Sunday):

  • Standard ticket: 12 euros
  • Reduced ticket: 10 euros (for students up to 25 years old, teachers, and caregivers of disabled persons)
  • Free ticket: for children up to 5 years old, journalists, guides, persons with disabilities, ICOM members, INAF staff, and holders of the Lombardy Museums subscription

Reservation

Tickets can be reserved through the museum’s website or by contacting them directly:

Additional information

  • Tickets are personalized but can be transferred to another person.
  • Purchased tickets are non-refundable and non-cancelable.
  • It’s advisable to arrive on time as indicated on the ticket, as late arrival may result in the inability to enter.
  • Visits to the Schiaparelli Dome are conducted in groups of up to 7 people for safety reasons.
Anna Bujanowska


Anna

I lived in Milan for 18 years, and it was there that I came to know the city’s daily life best - not just its landmarks, but also its rhythm, its habits, and its less obvious sides. Today I live in Wrocław, but I still return to Milan regularly.