As every year, May 18 marks International Museums Day, promoted by ICOM (the International Council of Museums), now in its 20th edition.
As places of learning, museums contribute to peaceful coexistence and mutual respect. The theme for the 2026 edition is “Museums Uniting a Divided World,” a theme that will also guide the celebrations for ICOM’s 80th anniversary throughout the year.
Museums are trusted public spaces where people connect with stories, objects, and one another. In times of social fragmentation, polarization, and inequalities in access to knowledge and culture, museums help rebuild connections across generations, between communities, and across borders, fostering dialogue, understanding, inclusion, and peace within and among communities worldwide.
The theme “Museums Uniting a Divided World” highlights the potential of museums to serve as bridges across cultural, social, and geopolitical divides, promoting dialogue, understanding, and peace within and among communities on a global scale. Museums do not erase differences, but create the conditions for them to be understood and addressed with respect: by safeguarding heritage and memory, offering opportunities for learning and reflection, and providing welcoming spaces where diverse voices can be heard. Open and accessible, museums promote diversity and sustainability.
Below are the initiatives of the SMA museums.
MUSEUM OF PATHOLOGICAL ANATOMY
- Monday 18 May, at 5 pm at Paleopathology Laboratory (Via Derna 1).
Seminar: “The Relics of Saints: Between Cultural Significance, Scientific Investigation, and Conservation,” presented by Dr. Agata Lunardini. Followed by a guided tour of the laboratory and the paleopathology collection.
Free event; reservations required by 1:00 p.m. on May 18 by emailing: info.map@sma.unipi.it.
BOTANICAL GARDEN AND MUSEUM
- Monday 18 May, at 3 pm at Savi Hall (Via Luca Ghini 13)
Presentation and award ceremony for the winning entries of the Fi/oTO 2026 Photography Contest. The 12 photos that received the most likes will be published in the Botanical Garden and Museum’s 2026 calendar and will be featured in a photography exhibition in the halls of the Botanical Museum.
Followed by a tour of the exhibition of the selected photos.
Free event.
ATTENTION! The Natural History Museum of Calci is also participating in International Museum Day 2026, but due to the general strike scheduled for May 18, the free admission event has been rescheduled for MONDAY, MAY 25, from 10:00 AM to 7:00 PM.
