Facility and What-to-do

Opened in 2004, the Museo del Balì is an interactive Science-Center created with the aim of stimulating and promoting interest in scientific culture in central Italy. It is installed in the splendid setting of the 18th-century Villa del Balì and thus situated in an area with a rich historical and cultural legacy.

Totally renewed in July 2016, it is a must for those who, alone, with a friend or with their family, visit the Province of Pesaro-Urbino.

People of all ages can come: the Museum is a magical place for children, it’s original for young ones and surprising for adults. There is only one rule: hands-on!

The Science-Center’s facilities include hands-on interactive exhibits, a Planetarium and an Observatory. They have been constructed to the highest international standards and share the proven hands-on approach to communicating science.“Observe, touch and think” are the keywords for visitors on the itinerary of exhibits that takes them from the principles of perception and exploration of how things work to key concepts in science.

The only one of its kind in the Marche region, the Balì Science-Center is laid out in an exhibition space of 2000 squared meters and is second in Italy in terms of its size and the quality of its facilities.

With the exception of the Observatory, this Science-Center is handicap accessible.

Cosa fare al museo

Hands-on Visit

The museum was opened in 2004 and it is a must for those who, alone, with a friend or with their family, visit the Province of Pesaro-Urbino.

People of all ages can come: the Museum is a magical place for children, it’s original for young ones and surprising for adults. There is only one rule: hands-on!

Totally renewed in 2016 July, the museum has nine rooms to visit for nine different topics: Perception, Physics, Math, Earth Science, Life Science and Temporary Exhibitions.

Touching, listening, smelling, looking, thinking: this is the way visitors move along a path of knowledge which, from the principles of perception, lead us to discover the nature of light and to unleash the key concept of science.

There isn't a guided tour for visitors. At each step our ideas about the world are confused: we have to try (by ourselves!) and try again to learn to formulate hypothesis close and closer to reality. This is the invitation of each interactive exhibit, a unique way to rediscover yourself as a scientist; no matter your age.

The exploration lasts about 1 and half hours. There are captions for help.

Here you can find a list with the exhibits in each room with a brief explanation (Italians only - English coming soon).

Planetarium

A planetarium is a theater built for presenting a naked-eye starry sky, projected on a dome-shaped screen onto which stars and planets can move realistically to simulate the complex 'motions of the heavens'.

The 60-seat planetarium of the Museum is named after Giuseppe Occhialini, a pioneer of high-energy Astrophysics who was born in nearby Fossombrone.

Under its eight-meter dome, visitors can set off on fascinating guided tours among the stars, constellations and planets to enjoy the wonders of the night.

A standard show lasts about 45 minutes and it's suitable for children above 4 years old. Booking possible but not required.

Astronomical Observatory

Situated in the grounds of the Villa, the astronomical Observatory enables visitors to view the Sun and the main celestial objects of the night sky directly through telescopes.

The modern set of instruments consists of many telescopes among which the 40cm diameter wide Ritchey-Chrétien and two Coronados, especially designed for solar observation (H-alpha and Cak wavelenghts). Thus, the Observatory is suitable both for School classes, according to different programs chosen by teachers, and for public over 4 years of age during openings.

The Observatory is named after Franco Pacini, an important Italian astrophysicist and a long time friend of the Museum who passed away in 2012.

From September 2014 the Observatory could be used via web even for far-away schools.

Observatory stay closed in some periods of the year. See opening times for more infos.