The Galileo Museum of Florence (previously known as the History of Science Museum) is located inside Palazzo Castellani, an extremely old building (late 11th century), known in the time of Dante as Castello d’Altafronte. Its extraordinary collections include old scientific instruments from the 11th to the 19th centuries, including all of Galileo’s original instruments that have survived to date, including the only two existing telescopes, the objective lens, the geometric and military compasses, and the Jovilable.  The collection includes over five thousand items, about one thousand of which are on permanent display in the eighteen rooms open to the public.  The exhibition route is divided into two essential core areas: the first floor is dedicated to the instruments collected by the Medici dynasty, and the second contains the objects collected by the Grand Dukes of Lorraine.

The Galileo Museum has done everything possible in terms of innovation and accessibility, making an information video on the collections in Italian sign language. This initiative is part of the WELCOME project, set up with the support of the Tuscany Region. The Italian sign language video – with subtitles, narration and representative images – is available online on the museum’s YouTube channel. The Galileo Museum also offers a free  app for visits. If used inside the museum, the app transforms all of its audio content into text format.