Extinct Animals Within Reach – Tactile Temporary Exhibition at the Botanical Garden

The exhibition is organised into two sections, both provided with texts in print and Braille to ensure an accessible visitor experience.

The first section presents five extinct species that lived in different geological periods and disappeared for various reasons. Their fossil remains, preserved and displayed in the Museum, cannot be touched for conservation purposes. However, three-dimensional replicas allow visitors to explore their shapes, sizes and anatomical features, offering a more immediate and engaging understanding.

The second section is dedicated to proboscideans and compares three extinct species – the mastodon, the southern mammoth and an ancient elephant – with the still-living Asian elephant. The Museum preserves numerous fossil remains belonging to the extinct species and, in some cases, these original materials are exceptionally available for touch, offering a unique and direct experience.

The initiative is part of the projects funded by the Italian National Recovery and Resilience Plan (PNRR) to improve accessibility at the Museum of Geology and Paleontology, with the aim of broadening access to natural and cultural heritage.

From 20 June to 11 October, admission to the exhibition is included in the Botanical Garden entrance ticket, with the concessions and free admissions provided for under the current pricing policy. On 20 and 21 June, entry to the Botanical Garden will be free for visitors holding a (free) ticket to the Museum of Geology and Paleontology. It will also be possible to access the Garden directly from the entrance at Via La Pira 8, from 10:00 am to 6:00 pm.