Museums
NAT LAB Museum
Orari
From 1 March to 14 June and from 16 September to 31 October
- every weekend from 16:00 to 18:00
From 15 June to 15 September:
- every day from 18:00 to 20:00
From 1 November to 1 March:
- opening according to the events calendar
Information: Info Park Portoferraio
Dove
c/o Forte Inglese, Via Giagnoni 5, 57037, Portoferraio (LI)
An unexpected journey of discovery into the fascinating world of insects. A natural history museum in a prestigious historical location, with breath-taking views across the Gulf of Portoferraio. Delight in the natural world and marvel at the rich history and fascinating stories which make this enchanted place unique.
Collection
The National Laboratory (Nat-Lab) museum was established in 2019 on the first floor of the English Fort following a close collaboration between the Municipality of Portoferraio and the Tuscan Archipelago National Park, with the goal of preserving and sharing the entomological, zoological and botanical collections of the Tuscan Archipelago.
The small museum houses collections of specimens from the Tuscan islands and is home to an educational centre, allowing visitors to explore the environmental heritage of the territory. The museum stems from citizen Leonardo Forbicioni’s desire to create a home for naturalists who study, conserve and love the extraordinary environmental heritage of the Tuscan Archipelago National Park, an area that has also been awarded the prestigious title of Biosphere Reserve under the UNESCO MaB Programme.
An incredible micro world to explore the biodiversity of our planet!
A visit to the museum is an engaging multimedia experience. All rooms are equipped with tablets that provide further information about each species on display through in-depth descriptions, details, photos and even audio files of the sounds they make.
The museum also has an APP called NatLab, available for both Android and Apple devises, that allows you to discover all the specimens on display at the museum through detailed descriptions, pictures, videos and audio.
A permanent exhibition dedicated to the scientist Giorgio Roster is planned for the ground floor of the English Fortress. A medical doctor who was passionate about photography, mineralogy and botany, Roster spent his summers in the Ottonella villa in Portoferraio from 1875 onwards.
La sede
The English Fort
An unexpected journey of discovery into the fascinating world of insects.
A natural history museum ... Info
Info
Servizi
Periodic guided tours, educational workshops and various initiatives focusing on the cultural values of the English Fortress and the natural values of the permanent exhibition are organised by the Park Guides.
Accessibilità
The structure of the English Fortress is partially accessible to people with physical disabilities. While the ground floor of the Fort is accessible and can be easily visited, the Nat Lab collection is located on the upper floor and the building does not have a lift.
The Nat Lab collection can however be accessed through the NatLab app (available for Apple and Android devices), while the exhibition itself features a bilingual multimedia display and audio-visual aids.
How to get there
The English Fort is located on top of the hill of San Rocco, in Portoferraio. It can be easily reached from various roads in the town however the easiest route is to take Via Carducci and then take the turning for Via San Rocco. There is ample parking available in front of the Fortress.
