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Milan: Science and Technology Leonardo da Vinci Museum Entry
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The National Museum of Science and Technology “Leonardo da Vinci” (also known as the Museum of Science and Technology) spans 50,000 square metres and welcomes over 530,000 visitors annually, making it Italy’s largest science and technology museum and one of Europe’s leading institutions. Within its walls, you’ll find more than 19,000 historical artefacts, objects and records documenting the development of Italian technology from the 19th century onwards.
The museum also houses the world’s most extensive collection of machine models based on Leonardo da Vinci’s drawings. This is far more than a traditional museum space—it features 14 interactive workshops and over 160 educational programmes.
A visit to the National Museum of Science and Technology offers a chance to trace the major breakthroughs in scientific research and technological development. The collections span historical objects, scientific instruments and machinery related to transport, energy, steel production, telecommunications, computing and space exploration. Thematic pathways, permanent exhibitions and temporary shows combine to create an truly extraordinary journey of discovery. The workshops and hands-on learning experiences round out the offering, providing engaging opportunities to explore both cutting-edge and everyday topics.
Additionally, you can admire a collection of over 2,500 artworks including paintings, drawings and sculptures. The museum’s permanent exhibitions are organised into thematic areas: Leonardo Art & Science, Communication (telecommunications, technology, space), Food Science and Technology, Materials and Transport. There’s also the Leonardo da Vinci Gallery, which showcases numerous works by the Master himself.
One of the museum’s major sections focuses on Telecommunications, tracing the development of this field. The human need to communicate across distances led to the creation of technological innovations that overcame physical barriers. This section displays telegraphs, telephones and radios alongside modern tools of Communication and Information Technology (ICT).
The Space exhibition has two main areas: “Observing Space from Earth” and “Going into Space”. The first section features historical objects that contributed to our understanding of the Universe, from Galileo Galilei’s telescopes to those of Giovanni Schiaparelli.
Notably, this includes the impressive Merz-Repsold telescope through which Giovanni Schiaparelli observed and mapped the surface of Mars between 1886 and 1890. Also on display is Jeremiah Sisson’s Equatorial Sector Telescope from 1774, with which Schiaparelli discovered the asteroid Esperia.
The second section charts the steps leading to space exploration and reveals the workings of the International Space Station (ISS). Original artefacts, interactive experiences, detailed information and fascinating facts are housed here, along with a lunar rock fragment collected by Apollo 17 commander Eugene Cernan and donated to Italy by President Nixon.
The Leonardo da Vinci Gallery guides visitors on a journey through the life and works of Leonardo, from his early training through his time in Florence and culminating in his years at the Sforza court in Milan. The gallery spans over 1,300 square metres and showcases more than 170 historical models, artworks, sketches and rare volumes.
This section includes an extensive collection of machine models based on Leonardo’s drawings. From military devices such as the speeded-up warship and diving suit to architectural studies featuring his ideal city model, you can also see his contributions to Lombard Renaissance painting.
The Transport section documents the development of transportation across maritime, rail and air sectors. Here you can see early steam locomotives, electric trains and the first urban public transport vehicles, such as the OMNIBUS and the Gamba de Legn, which once carried factory workers through Milan.
The naval transport galleries contain over 3,300 objects, an impressive collection of ship models, nautical instruments and equipment, as well as small vessels from around the world. The aviation section highlights key stages in aeronautical technology, from Forlanini’s experimental helicopter to the first civil aircraft of the 1930s.
Also part of the Transport section is the Toti Submarine, the first submarine built in Italy after World War II, equipped with cutting-edge technology for its time. Launched in 1967 and in service until 1997, Toti patrolled Mediterranean waters to monitor potential Soviet submarine movements. Since the 2000s, the submarine has been housed in the museum, and visitors can now explore its interior on a guided tour that recreates life aboard during the Cold War era.
Entry to the museum requires an online ticket purchase. Ticket prices are as follows:
For guided tours of the Toti Submarine, an additional ticket of €10 must be purchased.
Museum admission is complimentary with the Milan Pass, the city card for Milan that grants free entry to the city’s major museums, including La Scala and the Duomo. Valid for 48 hours, it also includes public transport and numerous activities and discounts at local businesses.
The museum is open to the public on the following days: Tuesday to Friday 9.30am–5.00pm, and Saturday and public holidays 9.30am–6.30pm. The museum is closed every Monday.
Last entry is one hour before closing. Closed on all non-holiday Mondays, 24 December, 25 December and 1 January.
If you’re a Leonardo enthusiast, don’t miss Museo Leonardo3, Leonardo’s Vineyard and, of course, The Last Supper Museum when visiting Milan.
You can reach the museum by public transport. If travelling by metro, take line MM2 to S. Ambrogio station. By bus, take line 58 to Museo della Scienza stop or line 94 to Carducci stop.
Those driving should note that the museum is located in the “Area C” limited traffic zone. The nearest car park is Carducci Parking on Via Olona, which offers visitors to the museum one hour of free parking.
The National Museum of Science and Technology is located in central Milan within the ancient monastery of San Vittore al Corpo, not far from the Church of Santa Maria delle Grazie, where Leonardo's famous Last Supper can be found, and from the Basilica of Sant'Ambrogio.
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