Pisa | Museum of Computing Machines

The Museum of Computing Instruments exhibits the most significant pieces from a rich collection of machines related to the history of Computing, unique in Italy and internationally renowned for the completeness of its materials. The museum is part of the University of Pisa’s Museum System.

The first electronic calculator is from Pisa

The Museum’s exhibition path ranges from the arithmometers of the 19th century to the great calculators of the 1950s and 1960s, up to the most important products in the history of the Personal Computer. The most famous “piece” is the Pisana Electronic Calculator (1961), around which the first Italian school of computer science was formed. There are also iconic machines such as the Olivetti ELEA 6001 (1961), designed by Ettore Sottsass, and the Cray X-MP (1982), on which the first Pixar shorts were made.

Pisa’s leadership in the field of computer science

Pisa can boast numerous records: the first Italian scientific computer was born here in 1961 and in 1986 Pisa was the first Italian city to connect to the future Internet.
To underline the link with the computer revolution, in October the Internet Festival takes place with a rich program involving institutions, research organizations and citizens.

The Museum is temporarily closed, due to renovation works. A significant part of its collection is currently on display at Le Benedettine (Piazza San Paolo a Ripa d’Arno, 16) as part of the exhibition “Hello World! From the arithmometer to the smartphone”, with free admission.