Back to museums

Museo di Storia Naturale di Venezia (Fontego dei Turchi)

ArchitectureNatural HistoryScienceClosed · Opens 10amFrom €15San Stae (vaporetto line 1)

Venice's natural history museum, named after explorer Giancarlo Ligabue, occupies the Fontego dei Turchi, a 13th-century Venetian-Byzantine palazzo that served as the Ottoman merchants' trading house from 1621 to 1838. Founded in 1923 and here since 1969, it holds some two million specimens. Highlights include the Ouranosaurus nigeriensis skeleton and a giant crocodile from Ligabue's 1973 Ténéré desert expedition, Giovanni Miani's African collections from his search for the source of the Nile, and a gallery built around a fin whale skeleton. It is one of the Fondazione Musei Civici di Venezia (MUVE) museums.

What's On

Permanent Collections

Plan Your Visit

Getting there

Santa Croce 1730, 30135 Venezia, Italy

Nearest station: San Stae (vaporetto line 1), Riva de Biasio (vaporetto line 1)

Show on map

Hours

Summer hours, last admission 17:00 until 30 September, 10:00–18:00

Late opening, last admission 19:00 until 26 September, 10:00–20:00

MonClosed
Tue09:00–17:00
Wed09:00–17:00
ThuToday09:00–17:00
Fri09:00–17:00
Sat09:00–17:00
Sun09:00–17:00

Admission

From €15

Reduced €7.50 for ages 6-14, students 15-25, over-65s, Rolling Venice and ISIC card holders. Free for Venice residents, under-6s, disabled visitors with a companion and ICOM members.

Nearby

Ca' Pesaro – International Gallery of Modern Art

Architecture2 min walk

Palazzo Mocenigo – Museum of Textiles and Costume

Design3 min walk

Fondazione Prada Venezia (Ca' Corner della Regina)

Architecture4 min walk

Ca' d'Oro – Galleria Giorgio Franchetti

Architecture6 min walk

Visitor Information

How much does Museo di Storia Naturale di Venezia (Fontego dei Turchi) cost?
Standard adult admission to Museo di Storia Naturale di Venezia (Fontego dei Turchi) is €15. Reduced €7.50 for ages 6-14, students 15-25, over-65s, Rolling Venice and ISIC card holders. Free for Venice residents, under-6s, disabled visitors with a companion and ICOM members.. Prices for special exhibitions and timed-entry slots may differ.
What are the opening hours of Museo di Storia Naturale di Venezia (Fontego dei Turchi)?
Museo di Storia Naturale di Venezia (Fontego dei Turchi) is open Tue-Sun 09:00-17:00 from 1 October to 31 May (last entry 16:00); 10:00-18:00 from 1 June to 30 September (last entry 17:00), with Friday and Saturday until 20:00 from 1 May to 26 September 2026. Closed Mondays.. Holiday hours can vary, so check the museum's website before you go.
Where is Museo di Storia Naturale di Venezia (Fontego dei Turchi)?
Museo di Storia Naturale di Venezia (Fontego dei Turchi) is located at Santa Croce 1730, 30135 Venezia, Italy, in the Santa Croce area of Venice. The nearest stations are San Stae (vaporetto line 1), Riva de Biasio (vaporetto line 1).
What can I see at Museo di Storia Naturale di Venezia (Fontego dei Turchi)?
Dinosaurs, a 19-metre fin whale and explorers' cabinets inside a 13th-century Byzantine palace on the Grand Canal. Current highlights include Collecting to Astonish, Collecting for Research, Cetaceans Gallery, The Strategies of Life.
Do I need to book Museo di Storia Naturale di Venezia (Fontego dei Turchi) in advance?
Booking ahead is recommended, especially for weekends, school holidays, and special exhibitions. Tickets are normally on the museum's website, and a pre-booked timed slot helps you avoid queues at the entrance.
When is the best time to visit Museo di Storia Naturale di Venezia (Fontego dei Turchi)?
Weekday mornings shortly after opening are typically the quietest, especially mid-week. Late afternoons can also be calmer. Weekends, school holidays, and the lunch rush are the busiest periods.

Didier Descouens / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0)

DirectionsVisit Website