I first visited the Musei de Palazzo Poggi way back in 2012 when I was setting up Creating a Context , an International, project for Postgraduate students in Art and Architecture involving seven Universities across Europe, funded by the British Council. It was love at first site. I have since returned several times. Myself and several colleagues from Newcastle University are currently working on extending the project A Scientific Encounter to work with the University of Bologna and the Palazzo Poggi. It has a wonderful collection beginning with a cabinet of curiosities based around the work of Ulisse Aldrovandi (1522-1605) and the wood cuts made to illustrate his volumes on ‘natural things’. This flows into a medical section featuring obstetrics and a unique collection of full size ceramic models of fetus in different positions in the uterus. There is also a small collection of scientific instruments focused on light, optics and electrical physics, and a wonderful collection of large scale model ships, maps and globes. Every time I visit it is never for less than half a day.
