Zoological collection

The zoological collection is composed of taxidermies of mammals and birds mainly typical to the alpine region.

The largest collection was created by Emanuele Bona (1909-1994), wool entrepreneur passionate about etology. He collected many animal specimens between the '50s and the '80s. In 2004, the collection was gifted to the Museum by his heirs. Another significant number of animals, from different parts of the world (Canada and North America, Russia, Slovenia) forms the Cogliati collection, which is part of the Museum since 2010.

The exhibit is divided into three rooms which relates to threee habitats that can be found in Usseglio: the high peaks, the wood, and the plain adjacent to the river.
The high peaks are the territories where the vegetation doesn't grow (Usseglio has eight mountains which reach over 3000 m). The wood goes from the plain up to 1600-1700 m. The lower part of the valley, crossed by river Stura, extends for over four kilometres.

In 2023 the Museum enriched the section with a collection of butterflies which comprises most of the species found in Lanzo Valleys. The collection was exhibited in the temporary exhibition La bellezza in un battito d'ali.

Herbarium

The herbarium, research collection accessible on request, documents plant diversity on the territory. The mycological collection is annexed to the herbarium.

Discover the herbarium

Minerals collection

The ancient history of Usseglio and the Lanzo Valleys as location of mines is represented by the collection of minerals of scientific and industrial interest.
There are iron minerals (siderite, goethite, hematite) and cobalt ores (skutterudite, erythrite), elements extracted in the valley until tha late 19th century. There is also a selection of silicates such as quartz, garnets, epidotes, as well as lavoisierite, a mineral discovered in Viù Valley.