I would not have considered visiting
the "Science Museum" in Florence without
the very strong urging of a friend back home. I expected
something like the Exploratorium
in San Francisco, USA (a very fine museum in its own right,
but I did not come to Italy to learn more about physics
and chemistry).
How glad I am that I put aside my prejudices.
The Museo
di Storia della Scienza isn't focused on science, per
se, but the history of science, and its unique
collection was unforgettable.
There is such an emphasis on Florence as a
repository for great art, that it's easy to forget that
the city was also host to great scientific advancements.
Galileo's
Finger
Yes, that's Galileo's actual 400+ year old finger,
the one that focused those telescopes and held the pen that
noted the observations to prove the Earth revolved around
the Sun (and nearly cost him his life for his "heresy").
Presumably the rest of Galileo is
in Santa Croce.
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Ticket
to Many Wonders
If you have any curiosity at all, don't miss this
museum. (Mouse over to see reverse side of ticket, and read
about all the things you're not supposed to do there.)
When Galileo first
introduced the idea of scientific method (proving
hypothesis by experimentation rather than Aristotelian logic)
he created the need to measure physical properties accurately.
Collected here
are the very early instruments designed to measure
time, weight, temperature, pressure: clocks, scales, barometers,
thermometers, but none like I had ever seen. These were beautifully
crafted individual masterpieces, with varnished wooden
surfaces, decorative inlays, shiny brass hand tooled fittings.
But wait, there's more:
The museum's blend of history, art, science
and curiosities inspires, delights, amazes and sometimes
disgusts, but never fails to engage.
Next:
Santa Croce Construction
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