Hzero, the train museum in Florence
In the heart of the city the museum dedicated to the model railway of Giuseppe di San Giuliano
Conceived as an immersive narrative device that comes to life in the spaces of the former Ariston cinema, a stone's throw from Santa Maria Novella, Hzero is built around a unique work of art - an imposing 280-square metre model railway, one of the largest in Europe. The project is the brainchild of Giuseppe Paternò Castello di San Giuliano, who has dedicated himself to it with passion and dedication since the 1970s and now finds a museum form for sharing with the public thanks to the commitment of his children Diego, Giulia and Maria. HERE you will find our interview with the Marquis a few years ago.
History
Hzero owes its name to the 1/87 scale, typical of model railways, a kind of golden section that establishes the optimal size to guarantee detail and an overall view. The construction of the model railway was started in 1972 by Giuseppe di San Giuliano from Florence, starting with a Märklin train. Soon, the growing aspirations of its creator gave rise to a larger and larger project, which led in 1985 to the work being moved to the barn of the family farmhouse in Val d'Arno; since 2001, the work has then been located in a 400 square metre hangar in Scandicci, on the outskirts of Florence. During these years, the model counted on the involvement of new energies, identified in the contribution of friends and acquaintances, including Carlo Brandolini d'Adda and the modeller Marco Baldi, who gave it a decisive development. Giuseppe di San Giuliano had succeeded in realising his dream: to encapsulate 40 years of passion in a single project that could be enjoyed by all. Even after the death of its creator, the project did not die out, but was continued by his children. Thanks to their work, the model has been and is still being updated today, incorporating the new technological processes that mark the history of the train and that of mankind.
The site housing the model is located a few steps from Santa Maria Novella, where the Ariston cinema once stood, whose films began to run in 1938. The cinema offered critically and publicly acclaimed titles such as E. T. and Pulp Fiction. Unfortunately, in 2000 the projectors reached the end of their lifespan, forcing the cinema to close. In 2022, the doors opened again, but this time it was not the voices of famous actors that welcomed the audience, but the whistle of trains.
The model railway
The model railway stretches 280-square metre, it is in fact one of the largest in Europe. The work combines in itself the dimension of play and that of technology; it was created without a specific purpose, as it was the material realisation of a dream, certainly not lacking the will to transmit this passion to the public, especially the youngest. This is understandable by the fact that it does not reproduce a specific railway or a specific territory, but an entirely imaginary scenery, characterised by the blue coast of the Island of Elba and European architecture. The spider's web of tracks is animated by the models of dozens of trains that, at the same time, travel through the scenery of the model. The model is divided into four modules, divided by three ‘corridors’, which visitors can use to comfortably admire every detail. It consists of 1 km of track, operated by the Märklin alternating current system. Completing the scene are 147 switches, 121 traffic lights and no less than 70 moving trains.
Activities for children
The Hzero museum is the perfect place to spend an afternoon of fun with the little ones. It offers three educational activities:
HZEROLAB
Starting in October, adults and children will be able to participate in the One Day Lab, Hzero's new project in which participants will learn how to create a small Diorama, with the help of expert modellers. The materials will be provided by the museum and the Diorama will remain the property of the creators. Enrolment is limited to a maximum of 12 participants. The workshop will take place from 10 a.m. to 5.30 p.m. (with a break from 1 p.m. to 2.30 p.m.) on Sundays in October (5, 13, 27) and on the first Sunday in November (10). The workshop for children will be held on Sunday 20 October and Sundays 3 and 17 November, from 10:30 to 17:30. For more information click here.
HZEROSCHOOL
The course is open to kindergarten, primary and secondary school pupils. For pre-school it lasts 1.5 hours, and for the remaining two levels of education 2 hours. This journey between the rails aims to bring young people closer to this world, investigating the train from different aspects such as its environmental impact and the advancement it has brought to human society. For more information click here.
HZEROFAMILY
The Hzerofamily project is aimed at families who want to enjoy a unique experience without having to worry about the age of their children. In fact, the project offers routes divided according to the age group of the little ones. To find out more click here.
Opening hours and tickets
The museum is open Sunday to Monday from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. It is closed on Tuesdays.
Full price ticket: 12 €
Admission for children 4-13 years: 6 €
Admission for children 14-18 years: 8 €
Free admission for children up to 4 years of age