Museo di Scienze Naturali di Torino reopens after 10 years

After a decade of closure due to a gas cylinder explosion that damaged two floors, the Museo Regionale di Scienze Naturali di Torino will partially reopen on January 12, 2024. The museum, established by the Regione Piemonte in 1978, houses scientific collections dating to the early 19th century in a 17th-century building that once served as the Ospedale San Giovanni Battista. The Regione invested over €8.3 million for restoration, including €2.3 million for system upgrades (2015-2017) and €2 million for structural work to obtain occupancy certificates. Initially, three ground-floor halls will be open: Zoology (with taxidermied animals including Fritz the Indian elephant, a former Savoy court pet), the Arca (exploration history from the 18th century onward), and Paleontology (with dinosaur models from Argentina) plus botany, entomology, and mineralogy. A gradual full reopening with additional €4 million works is planned. The inauguration includes a symbolic journey of a resin Fritz elephant from Stupinigi to Piazza Castello, a QR code for updates, and events: marine biologist Mariasole Bianco leads "Pianeta oceano" on Jan 12; Giovanni Muciaccia hosts a creativity show on Jan 13; talks on science and art curated by Luca Beatrice on Jan 19, 26, and Feb 2. All events require reservations.