Thousand Voices and Thousand Sounds Museum, Bologna

The Thousand Voices and Thousand Sounds Museum (Museo Pelagalli "Mille voci ... mille suoni") in Bologna will be a paradise for technology fans. The museum presents the main scientific and technical inventions of mankind in the communication section from radios and musical instruments to computers. Moreover, many antique items are still functioning properly.

History of the museum

The history of the museum dates back to 1952. Then, Giovanni Pelagalli, as a teenager, created a small radio workshop in his house with the help of his parents. A few years later, he began to collect various old radio devices. In 1965 he started a business in the telecommunication field. During his free time, the businessman continued to collect technology. Finally, in 1990, Pelagalli opened a museum, his personal collections and acquisitions became its first exhibits. In 2007, the museum received worldwide recognition: it was recognized as part of the UNESCO cultural heritage. In recent years, there has been an active debate about new large exhibition spaces for the museum.

Museum exhibition

All collections were bought mainly on various flea markets, and one cannot but be surprised how such valuable items were undeservedly forgotten. In total, the museum owns about 2000 exhibits over 1,300 of which are put on display for guests. The exhibition is located on 4 floors and takes up a total area of 600 square meters. The exhibition is organized in a specific way that makes the visitors walk 2 km during the guided tour! The collection traces a rich history of the evolution of communications from the second half of the 18th century and to the end of the 20th century. All exhibits are divided thematically into several parts, which are arranged chronologically.

1. The history of radio. This part introduces guests to the evolution of radio devices. By applying knowledge of electrodynamics, radiotelegraphy, and radiophony, visitors have the opportunity to experiment and learn how modern radio works. There are also the first Italian radios and a radio station from an airplane that dates back to World War I.
2. History of phonography. The numerous and fascinating exhibits that are presented in this sector tell the history of the invention of phonography. Here you can find phonographs, gramophones made of various materials, records and other devices. The museum boasts the famous “TIN FOIL” of 1877 by Thomas Edison.
3. History of musical machines. The devices of the 18th–19th centuries are exhibited in this part: orchestral, cylindrical organs, carillon, jukeboxes, various pianos.
4. The history of film and television. In this part, there are items that illustrate the development of cinematic craft. Lamps of the mid-19th century, projectors for silent cinema from the early 20th century, sound projectors from the pre-war period, cameras, antique posters, films can be found here. The museum offers a lot of information on the national cinematography.
5. The history of Italian sound recording. The collection has about 20,000 audio recordings, including quite rare ones. There are also musical scores, fairy tales on original discs, modern prints, and recordings.
6. History of telephony. This collection features rare telephones of the past: the 1871 Meucci telephone, the 1877 experimental Hughes telephone, the Grammont wooden telephone (France) and the Ericsson Ericsson (Sweden) telephone from 1892, as well as the first portable telephone.
7. History of computers. This exhibition includes mechanical calculators from the 1930s and 1940s, typewriters, and the very first devices that have the honor of being called computers.

The museum possesses a rich library of books and films with original volumes, magazines, publications, posters, and films of the 20th century. The actual tour is often guided by the founder of the museum – Giovanni Pelagalli.

How to get

The museum is located a little west of the historic center of Bologna, on Via Col di Lana, 7 / N. There are many parks and green spaces, as well as the Modern Art Museum. The closest bus stop is called Saffi which is 200 meters away. It can be reached by buses № 13, 19, 35, 39, 61, 81, 83, 86, 91, 95.

Opening hours: a visit to the museum is possible only at certain times specified during the advance booking for groups of more than 15 people. Contact number for inquiries: (+39) 051 649 1008.

Admission: entry fee is 5 euros. The information about admission and opening hours may be changed.