Geological and Historical Collections of ISPRA

In 2008 ISPRA inherited and currently holds the conspicuous Geological and Historical Heritage of the Geological Survey of Italy. They consist of the Paleontological and Litho-mineralogical Collections, over 150,000 findings of fossils, rocks and minerals, the Geological Relief maps Collection, the Collection of technical instruments, relics and works of art. These materials come from the activities conducted in the Geological Survey of Italy and are linked to the survey for the Geological Map of Italy from the mid 1800's until the closure of the historical site.

From 1885 to 1995 the Geological and Historical Collections were kept in the Geological Agrarian Museum in the historic building in Largo S. Susanna in Rome. When the headquarter was closed, as a result of the need to renovate the historic Canevari palace, it became necessary to temporarily transfer the Collections.

Most of the finds were packed and transferred to the warehouse of Civil Protection in Castelnuovo di Porto (Rome). The most significant, prestigious and delicate findings were transferred to the headquarters of the Department for National Technical Services, at Via Curtatone in Rome.

Here was made an exhibit of selected findings on the ground floor and on the first floor.

The transfer had to be only temporary, awaiting the renovation of the historic seat, but unfortunately, during those works, the collections definitively lost their location, as it was included in state assets to be sold to privates.

In 2006 all the museum materials were transferred and placed some in the basement floor of Via Curtatone and some in the warehouse of Via Paolo di Dono.

Lastly, in 2012, following the transfer of the ISPRA offices to Via Brancati 60, the surviving exposition was also packed and stored, together with the rest of the patrimony, at ISPRA's warehouses in Rome.

We can sadly comment that the last twenty years saw in fact the loss of the availability of the Geological Collections of the Italian State, with the final closure of the museum dedicated to them.

This heritage is currently accessible through the site: Virtual Museum of Geological and Historical Collections (link) where you can see a selection of fossil finds, lithological samples and historical relics of the prestigious museum heritage, as well as information on heritage history and the activities of management, study and disclosure of the same Collections.

We hope for a widespread dissemination of the Virtual Museum site so that people can get to know the prestigious collections and their controversial history.

Exhibitions and events

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