Museo della Specola in Florence reopens after four years with anatomical waxes

The Museo della Specola in Florence reopens on February 27, 2024, after a four-year renovation. The museum, part of the University of Florence's Natural History Museum, is famous for its collection of anatomical wax models, including the renowned "Venere" in detachable parts. The renovation, costing nearly 5 million euros, added 13 new exhibition rooms, two new tour routes (Art and Science, Mineralogy), and restored 360 works. The museum also features a zoological collection, the Hall of Skeletons with 3,000 osteological specimens, Galileo's Tribune, the 18th-century astronomical tower, and a mineral exhibit. The reopening comes a year before the museum's 250th anniversary in 2025, coinciding with the university's centenary. The wax workshop operated from 1771 to the late 19th century, creating models for scientific education. In spring 2023, the wax models were featured in a Milan exhibition at Fondazione Prada curated by David Cronenberg, who also filmed a short film at the museum.