During a beach holiday, it’s always nice to have the option of getting away from the sea and the sand to enjoy a cultural experience that’s educational and enthralling for the whole family.
Veneto is full of museums, Veneto villas and other places where you can do something different, go for a day out or even just spend an afternoon discovering and learning lots of new things. We really are spoilt for choice! In Venice and various other towns and cities, there are Roman and medieval archaeological sites, churches, magnificent villas, and Renaissance and modern museums that are just waiting to be explored.
There’s nowhere quite like the M9 Museum. It takes an interactive, digital approach that gets all visitors actively involved and presents a whole host of information and fascinating facts with multimedia systems that captivate adults, teenagers and children of all ages.
It’s practically impossible to get bored because there are so many installations to see and try, with sensors, buttons and headsets that will send you back to the different decades of Italian 20th century history.
M9 20th century museum: the story
In 2010, a foundation called the Fondazione di Venezia launched an international competition to design the M9 Museum in a neglected area in the centre of Mestre that had long been off limits to the local people. The German firm Sauerbruch Hutton’s project was selected due to its vision of urban renewal based on a range of new and restored works of architecture that are perfectly integrated in the town: new public spaces, accesses that make the area totally permeable and eco-sustainable solutions such as the use of raw materials with a low environmental impact and forms of energy production technology.
Three architectural interventions were planned. One them involved the building that now houses the 20th Century Museum, which stands out due to its compact shape and distinctive colour scheme. The initiative also encompassed the building opposite, which plays an administrative role. In addition, painstaking renovation and restoration work was done on a 1970s building and a late 16th century former convent that is now used for administrative and commercial purposes. A huge amount of value has been added to the sites, where locals and visitors can now take part in numerous activities in the vibrant town centre.
Meticulous research into the colours of Mestre gave rise to an interesting juxtaposition between the modern materials used – such as concrete and the ceramic tiles covering part of the structure – and the town’s trademark hues.
Visiting the M9 20th Century Museum
We wanted to recommend the M9 20th Century Museum because it really has something to suit all ages from four up, so even younger children will have a great time.
There’s a fun character called the “M9 Spring” that accompanies young visitors around the museum and explains how to use all of the installations that are designed for them.
Do you have teenagers? We know that it can sometimes be tough to get them to take an interest in cultural matters but you can rest assured that the M9 Museum will pique their curiosity and they’ll soon be having fun learning new things about the recent past of Italy and its people.
However, don’t go thinking that the museum is just for kids. It’s also very interesting for adults because it brings back memories by giving an overview of the changes that occurred in Italy throughout the 20th century in areas such as politics, society, population, culture and customs.
It’s a great place to spend an enjoyable few hours with your family or friends, and you don’t just have to take our word for it: all of the feedback received from visitors so far has been very positive.
- – The museum is divided into two sections. A permanent 20th century Italy exhibition spans the first and second floors of the M9, where a range of multimedia and interactive installations present immersive environments that are highly engaging for people of all ages. All of the installations are clearly illustrated and explained in various ways, including with easily grasped pictograms and symbols. The ones for children are no exception, so they can choose which activities to do all by themselves.
- – On the third floor is an area for temporary exhibitions. Until 25 September 2022, it is hosting an exhibition entitled “TASTE! Italians at the table: 1970-2050”. It’s all about one of the great, internationally renowned and acclaimed Italian passions: food. It reveals how the relationship between Italians and food has changed significantly over the last 100 years. Take a look around the fascinating array of iconic vintage packaging by some of the biggest Italian food labels, unique designer creations, stunningly futuristic household appliances, a selection of gourmet dishes that have gone down in Italian culinary history worldwide, and much more besides. Scheduled to run alongside the exhibition are a series of workshops, cooking demonstrations, conferences, talks and public initiatives, featuring chefs, scientists and artists.
M9 Museum: – opening times, tickets and how to get there
Getting to the museum is extremely simple and we’ve put together some useful information to make things even easier for you.
M9 Museum opening times
The museum is open from 10:00 am to 6:00 pm on Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays
and from 10:00 am to 7:00 pm on Saturdays and Sundays. It’s closed on Mondays and Tuesdays.
Tickets and prices at the M9 Museum
The admission price depends on whether you want to visit the permanent exhibition and/or the temporary exhibition on the third floor.
Prices for the permanent exhibition:
Full price: €10.00
Concessions: €8.00 (for children between 7 and 18 years old, students up to 26 years old with a student ID card, people who live in the Municipality of Venice, members of the National Trust for Italy (FAI) and people aged over 65)
Family: €20.00 (2 adults + 1 child between 7 and 18 years old) – Only available from the museum ticket office
Open: €12.00 (valid until 31 December 2022) – Only available from the museum ticket office
Prices for the “TASTE! Italians at the table: 1970-2050” temporary exhibition running until 25 September 2022:
Full price: €12.00
Concessions: €9.50 (for children between 7 and 18 years old, students up to 26 years old, people who live in the Municipality of Venice, members of the National Trust for Italy (FAI) and people aged over 65)
Family: €24 (2 adults + 1 child between 7 and 18 years old) – Only available from the museum ticket office
Prices for both exhibitions (permanent + temporary)
Full price: €18.00
Concessions: €14.50 (for children between 7 and 18 years old, students up to 26 years old, people who live in the Municipality of Venice, members of the National Trust for Italy (FAI) and people aged over 65)
Family: €36.00 (2 adults + 1 child between 7 and 18 years old) – Only available from the museum ticket office
Admission is free to both of the exhibitions at the M9 Museum in Mestre for: children aged 6 and under, disabled people, 1 leader with each group, 1 carer with each disabled person, ICOM members
How to get to the museum
It’s easy to get to the M9 Museum because it’s right in the centre of Mestre, at 11 Via Giovanni Pascoli.
– If you’re travelling by car, we recommend that you leave your vehicle at the Candiani car park (payment is required) and walk to the museum, passing through Piazza Ferretto on the way.
– If you’re travelling by public transport (train, bus and/or tram), we recommend that you get off at the Piazzale Cialdini bus stop. Google Maps can come in very handy on the two-minute walk from there to the museum.
– If you get off the train at Mestre station, it takes 10 to 15 minutes to walk to the museum.
So do you fancy a trip to the museum?
Thanks to an exclusive deal, all Lampo customers staying in one of our properties during the 2022 summer season can get a voucher for 20% off the ticket prices.
