FAQ
GENERAL INFORMATIONS
Where is HZERO located?
The Museum is located in Piazza degli Ottaviani 2, in Florence. It can be easily reached on foot, just a 5 minute walk from Santa Maria Novella Station. From Station Square simply take Via degli Avelli, skirting the splendid basilica of Santa Maria Novella and leading into the square which bears its name: continue straight on to Piazza degli Ottaviani and the entrance to the Museum. For more information on opening hours see the ticketing section.
How much is the entrance fee to HZERO?
The full rate to enter HZERO is €14, but the museum provides a number of reductions and cumulative tickets for groups and families, with reduced rates at €7 and €9, and free admission for children under 4 years of age. For more information on rates consult the ticket office.
Why does the entrance fee cost so much?
HZERO’s entrance fees are consistent with the cultural offerings of the city of Florence. In addition, the model railroad requires constant work to maintain it. For this reason, every year, the museum is closed for three weeks to carry out all necessary maintenance work.
Is there luggage storage?
Yes, there are lockers in the entrance lobby with special padlocks for any bulky luggage, backpacks and bags. For more information on all of HZERO’s services visit the dedicated section!
Are there any audio-guides?
HZERO includes an immersive installation where the sound component is very important.To fully enjoy the experience proposed by the Museum, it is therefore strongly recommended that you also enjoy the soundscape designed by Tempo Reale specifically for the museum project. Therefore, no audio guides are provided, but you can find the free map with the funniest scenes of the model at the ticket office or buy the official museum guide in Italian or English.
How long does the visit take?
The average length of the HZERO visit is one and a half hours, but it depends on each visitor’s desire to observe all the miniature details of the model. Completing the visit is the 3D viewer experience on the second floor and the viewing of the documentary on the history of the model.
Are animals allowed?
Animals, even small animals, are not allowed inside the exhibition spaces. Exceptions are made for guide dogs assisting blind visitors.
THE MODEL RAILWAY
Why is the model railroad placed so high?
The model railroad includes nearly 1 kilometer of tracks and it is traveled daily by more than 70 trains, with 359 possible routes. Trains that are not visible on its surface continue to cross it in the underground railroad route, which allows carriages to reach the various stations and tunnels included in the scenery. At some points along the route, it is possible to follow the underground travels of trains through special windows. Therefore, the underground tracks are necessary for the proper functioning of the model and require a volume of space consistent with this need. In order to allow for proper viewing, steps have been placed around the perimeter of the model, which serve the function of providing privileged vantage points for young and old alike.
To enable everyone to properly enjoy the model at the ticket office it is possible to request: Montessori turrets for children under 8 years old
An electric wheelchair with adjustable seat up to 30 centimeters for the public with motor disabilities.
Why is the model railway protected by a plexiglass panel?
The model railway is also unique because of the wealth of details, scenery and characters that live within it. Every single element was handcrafted and placed by the creators. Therefore, it is inherently fragile and needs a protective barrier.
Why are there video projections and music?
HZERO is a museum project created around the San Giuliano model railway, placing it within an immersive setting of which video projections and music are an integral part.
The animations and soundscape pick up and enrich the scenes narrated in the model, creating a true multimedia narrative that does not exclude the passage of time, seasons, different weather conditions and times of day.
Why are there no captions to indicate the different landscapes that the model railway is inspired by?
The sceneries depicted in the model railway are inspired by real landscapes – from the Dolomites to the coasts of the island of Elba, to Berlin’s roads and stations.
However, they are landscapes and scenery freely interpreted and juxtaposed with each other in an imaginative and creative way. The ultimate goal is not the slavish reproduction of real landscapes, but the creation of a fantasy universe where reality and imagination mingle and blur. For this reason, there are no captions indicating the places that inspired the creators of the model, which are, however, indicated within the museum guide.
FURTHER INFORMATIONS
What else is it possible to see, besides the model railway, in HZERO?
On the second floor of the museum, it is possible to view the documentary dedicated to the history of HZERO-from the origins of the model railroad to the functional readjustment of the former Ariston cinema space-as told by its protagonists, as well as the display of the collection of miniature model trains in the showcases, the Workshop with its test track, and the corner with 3D viewers to explore the model virtually. Finally, you can take a souvenir photo with HZERO’s model train scenarios in the corner with the green screen.