On Saturday 31 October 2026 the Kosmos Museum of the University of Pavia opens the Galleria degli Scheletri (Skeleton Gallery), a temporary exhibition that brings to the museum’s exhibition room the most significant specimens from its comparative anatomy collections: skeletons of mammals, birds, fish, reptiles and amphibians, selected from those kept in the museum’s storage rooms. The Gallery will remain open until summer 2027, from Tuesday to Sunday, 10 am to 6 pm. On opening day, for Halloween, Kosmos also hosts the Skeleton Night, an overnight stay at the museum for children aged 8 to 12.

The Galleria degli Scheletri brings together specimens from the five classes of vertebrates: mammals, birds, fish, reptiles and amphibians. The pieces on display are some of the most important examples from a collection that, taken as a whole, numbers more than 300 specimens.

The thread running through the exhibition is comparison. By looking closely at the skeletons of different species, visitors can discover how the shape and structure of bones are linked to the way each animal moves and to its adaptation to the environment in which it lives.

The fin whale

Looming over the room is the skeleton of the fin whale (balenottera comune), a familiar presence for anyone who knows Kosmos: it has been displayed in this space since the museum opened in 2019. With the new exhibition, however, the context changes, as the great cetacean becomes part of a broader story, that of the museum’s Comparative Anatomy collection.

The primates

One area of the Gallery is devoted to primate skeletons, a field in which Kosmos holds one of the richest collections in Italy.

Form, movement and adaptation

Placing very different animals side by side makes it possible to spot similarities and differences that are easy to miss at first glance. It is a practical way to understand how nature has shaped the skeleton in response to movement and environment, for example between animals that swim and animals that fly.

The Comparative Anatomy collection has ancient origins. In 1875 the old Natural History Museum of the University of Pavia, founded by Lazzaro Spallanzani, was divided into three sections. One of them, the Museum of Comparative Anatomy, was entrusted to professor Leopoldo Maggi. In the following years the collection grew considerably to meet the needs of teaching, thanks also to the hundreds of dry and liquid preparations made in the museum’s laboratories by University staff.

Along the route, short and simple texts, accessible through QR codes, guide visitors in observing some of the pieces on display. The brief notes help visitors pick out details and features of interest in some of the most significant specimens.

For Halloween, Kosmos is organising the Skeleton Night, or “Night of the Skeletons”, in the Gallery. The museum opens its doors to a small group of young explorers aged 8 to 12, who can spend a truly “spooky” night discovering unusual skulls and mysterious bones, while chasing a ghost with a story to tell.

The event starts on Saturday 31 October 2026 at 9 pm at the Kosmos Museum, Piazza Botta 9, Pavia, and ends at 10 am the next morning, Sunday 1 November. For information and bookings, see the dedicated page on the museum’s website.

The Galleria degli Scheletri is located at the Kosmos Museum, Piazza Botta 9, in the historic centre of Pavia. The exhibition is open from Saturday 31 October 2026 until summer 2027, during the museum’s opening hours: Tuesday to Sunday, 10 am to 6 pm.

Admission to the Gallery is included in the museum ticket; visitors who wish to see only the Galleria degli Scheletri can buy a dedicated ticket for €2. Full details are available on the Kosmos Museum website, on the exhibition page.

When does the Galleria degli Scheletri open?

The Galleria degli Scheletri opens on Saturday 31 October 2026 at the Kosmos Museum of the University of Pavia.

How long will it be open?

The exhibition is temporary and will remain open until summer 2027, during museum hours: Tuesday to Sunday, 10 am to 6 pm.

How much does admission cost?

Admission to the Gallery is included in the Kosmos Museum ticket. Admission to the Galleria degli Scheletri alone costs €2.

Which animals are on display?

Skeletons of mammals, birds, fish, reptiles and amphibians are on display, including the fin whale and a selection of primates, all from the museum’s storage rooms.

What is the Skeleton Night?

It is a night at the museum for children aged 8 to 12, organised by Kosmos for Halloween: it starts at 9 pm on Saturday 31 October 2026 and ends at 10 am the following day.

From discovering the structure of a great cetacean to comparing it with the primates, the Galleria degli Scheletri is an attraction for families, students and curious visitors, and one more reason to visit the Kosmos Museum in the centre of Pavia in the months leading up to summer 2027.

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