Darwin in Italy

This item appears on page 78 of the July 2009 issue.

The exhibition “Darwin 1809-2009,” celebrating the 200th anniversary of the naturalist’s birth, is being hosted through Oct. 25 in Milan at the museum Rotonda della Besana (Via Besana Enrico, 15-20122, Milan, Italy; phone 199 199 111 02 4335 3522, www.darwin2009.it/eng/Milan).

Among exhibits are original letters, maps and drawings from Charles Darwin’s 5-year voyage on HMS Beagle to South America and the South Pacific. Fossils and mounted animals Darwin sent back to England are displayed along with live animals representing some of the species that fascinated him. His study is re-created.

Open 9:30-7:30 Tuesday-Sunday, 2:30-7:30 Monday and 9:30-10:30 Thursday. €8 (near $11) adult or €6.50 senior.

The show then will move to Bari and the Castello Normanno-Svevo (phone 080 5286111), in Italy’s Puglia region, until March 2010.