Type:

Luoghi della cultura; Ente/Istituzione

Category:

Science and technology museums

Located near the ancient Colonna Fortress, housed in the historical Geodynamic Observatory and in a panoramic position with respect to the old town of Rocca di Papa, the Geophysical Museum is a unique vantage point for admiring the territory of Lazio, from the volcanic lakes down to the sea. The Observatory, built in 1888-89, was reactivated in 1951 by the National Institute of Geophysics and still functions as a node in the seismic and geodetic network of the Castelli Romani. The Museum’s historical instruments and a detailed interactive tour illustrate through play-teaching the ideas and scientific data that led to the knowledge of the Earth’s interior, ever since it began to be understood that our planet was spherical and questions were raised about what it contained. The ancient Lazio Volcano was an articulated central volcano whose phases of activity took place over a period of more than 700,000 years, and up to 20,000 years ago. Today the territory, which is protected by the Regional Park of the Castelli Romani, is characterised by beautiful woods that cover the slopes of the ancient eruptive cones and the beautiful lakes of Albano and Nemi.