Museum Network: Associazione Musei d'Ossola
A lesson by Professor Malladra
The extensive collection of 19th century specimens includes animals, insects, plants and minerals. In particular, the mineralogical section consists of vibrant rock samples taken during the construction of the Simplon tunnel. The collection, currently housed in various rooms of Collegio Mellerio Rosmini, occupies a total area of 155 square metres and includes animals, insects, plants, and minerals. The extremely rich material, collected over time by the Institute's science teachers, is organised in a first room dedicated to geology and mineralogy, where visitors can examine the geological samples collected by Professor Alessandro Malladra during the excavation of the Simplon Tunnel and other Simplon relics, including the only surviving drilling machine. Another room, devoted to zoology, features a rich collection of naturalised species. A third room hosts an interesting xylotheque (a collection of wood species), an herbarium and rare reproductions of Bakelite flowers.
Accessibility: with access ramp
Schools: by agreement with the organisation, by reservation only
Credits: Archivio Fotografico Distretto dei Laghi - Lorenzo Pipi
