Cantonal Museum of Natural History
Viale Carlo Cattaneo 4, 6900 Lugano
phone: 091 911 53 80
fax: 091 911 53 89
e-mail: dt-mcsn@ti.ch

The Museum is an multifaceted institution acting as an important focus of reference for a large circle of users: individuals, schools, research institutes, associsations, private economy and public administration.

Founded in 1854 by Luigi Lavizzari - a distinguished naturalist and politician of the 19th century - under the name of "Gabinetto di storia naturale", the Museum was entirely restructured during the second half of the '70s. Opened up to the public in 1979, it is now an agency of the cantonal Departemnt of Territory, whose main task is to investigate, document, study and divulge the knowledge relating to the natural heritage of the Canton Ticino. As a "cultural mediator", its mission is to encourage a deeper awareness of the growing role played by man in the natural enviroment.

The Museum has a two-storeys structure: the auditorium (100 seats), the permanent exposition (1100m2) and the workshop find on the lower floor; the officies, the library, the laboratory, as well as five rooms for the collections, are located on the upper one. Staff consists of experts in charge of the single scientific sectors (mineralogy and petrography, palaeontology, geology, vertebrate zoology, invertebrate zoology, botany and mycology), general officers (secretary, library, graphic service, workshop, caretaking) as well as visiting researchers, scholarship holders, students and trainees.

Opening hours:9-12am / 2-5pm,
Monday, Sunday and Bankholidays closed back