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Christmas at HZERO: holiday openings
Give the Gift of a Museum Visit
Give the Gift of a Museum Visit
Give the gift of an open ticket or annual pass for Christmas to visit the HZERO museum together and discover all the wonder of the model railroad and its miniature landscape. You can also buy it online, but if you drop by the ticket office, you can choose your own personalized artwork with illustrations related to the model's scenes, including Christmas-themed ones! Also, inside our bookshop, many themed gifts designed for travel lovers.
The train museum in Florence: a journey into a magical miniature world
IN THE HEART OF FLORENCE WITH ITS 280-SQUARE-METER MODEL RAILWAY HZERO AWAITS YOU
The heart of the HZERO Museum in Florence is its 280-square-meter model railway, crafted in more than forty years by a group of passionate model train enthusiasts.
This H0 scale model railway, one of the largest in Europe, was brought to life by the creative energy of Giuseppe Paternò Castello di San Giuliano. Giuseppe dedicated himself to the model railway with passion and commitment starting in the 1970s. It is an incredible imaginary miniature world where over 70 trains run simultaneously through meticulously reconstructed scenarios. These include architectural inspirations from Berlin, the mountainous landscapes of the Dolomites, the coastal views of Elba Island, and a grand station, reminiscent of Milan’s central railway station, all reproduced in a 1:87 scale.
Spanning 280 square meters, with 121 signals, 1,000 lampposts, 147 switches, 359 sections and nearly 1 kilometer of tracks. HZERO is the largest model railway in Italy.
A MUSEUM FOR EVERYONE, NOT JUST MODEL RAILWAY ENTHUSIASTS, AS IT STRIKES A BALANCE BETWEEN SERIOUSNESS AND LIGHTHEARTEDNESS, AWAKENING A SENSE OF PLAY AND WONDER SHARED BY ADULTS AND CHILDREN ALIKE.
5 MINUTES FROM SANTA MARIA NOVELLA STATION
OVER
1,000 MINIATURE SCENES
TO DISCOVER
ACTIVITIES, WORKSHOPS, AND COURSES TO TRY
An Immersive Museum: Treasure Hunts, 3D Visors, and Green Screen Experiences
A visit to the miniature train museum begins like a treasure hunt: HZERO’s model railway is filled with countless stories hidden within its reconstructions waiting to be discovered with every glance. Guided by the map provided at the entrance, visitors must keep a sharp eye. Only then can they spot a wedding taking place just steps away from a funeral, a cycling race as captivating as a group of nudists further ahead, a bakery fire drawing dozens of firefighters, or a checkpoint stopping an unsuspecting reckless motorcyclist.
But the visit doesn’t end here: on the museum’s second floor, you can explore parts of the model with 3D visors, walk through the streets of HZERO’s city, and feel like you’re in a video game as you search for hidden details such as the balloon vendor, the florist, or the porcelain shop. Then, put on a train conductor’s hat and become one of the stars of the HZERO world! Thanks to special effects in the green screen corner, you can take a souvenir photo with one of the model’s scenes as your backdrop.
Experience the Museum: Workshops for Families and Schools, Model Building Courses
School workshops
With its engaging and multidisciplinary approach, the HZERO museum offers countless educational opportunities for visitors of all ages. This has inspired a dedicated educational program featuring two school workshops, part of the ‘Le chiavi della città’ project by the Municipality of Florence.
Workshops for children and families
HZERO Family is a workshop program for children that invites families to explore the theme of travel, sparking imagination and creativity.
Prices and discounts: find the right ticket
There are many discounts available for visiting the miniature train museum. In addition to reduced rates and partnerships with various organizations, family packages and annual memberships are also offered. Tickets can be purchased both online and at the ticket office—find the pricing option that suits your needs.
The train museum is available for your special events
The museum dedicated to the world of trains is located in the heart of Florence in a converted former cinema just steps away from Santa Maria Novella station. From the grand atrium, reminiscent of a train station, to the clocks displaying time zones of major cities, from the figurative rail elements embedded in the flooring to the benches and first-floor glass walls—every detail has been carefully chosen to make travel the central theme of the design.
At HZERO you’ll find the TAG bistro offering a menu inspired by travel, a bookshop with perfect gift ideas for every traveler, a cinema room, and ample spaces ideal for private parties, meetings, and events. We even offer a special birthday package for the little ones!
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