volandia parco e museo del volo malpensa

Saw sign at airport. After a long look, found arrows pointing to the walking path. 10 minutes to big sign saying "open 10-6 Weds to Sun" (it's Fri.). Walked another 5 minutes to entrance. Closed. Called phone number (not clickable on web site), told "only open Fri and Sat." They need MUCH better signage at the airport - not fun at all while carrying bags.

The museum features the reconstruction of the era of aviation in Italy: from the first self powered aircraft to the era of turbojets. It is split in themes: fixed wong, helicopters, space ships, models and mockups and finally an atea dedicated to children amusement and playground. Inside you can find a caffeteria and a bistrot, or if you want, you can consume your home packed meal in plein air, in a well furnished area. The museum is continously adding pieces and models, so it is getting better and better over the time. Easily accessible by car or train from Milan and the sourroundings, just beside the Malpensa Airport to which is connected by a pedestrian side walk.The weather is not a factor, but if you choose a warm sunny day, is always better.Gs

A nice museum just 10 mins walking distance from Malpensa Airport. The entrance fee is 9 Euro's for adults. The museum is housed in the old (1910) factories of the long-since defunct Caproni company; the museum just oozes history. It is still quite new; the collection is a bit haphazard but nice to look at. Pity the two WW2 fighters; a Macchi MC.202 Folgore and a MC.205 Veltro, were fiberglass models...

We visited on a Sunday with some friends from Milan and there 4 year old son.The museum is just on the outskirts of the airport and is split into sections featuring different aspects of flight. Unsurprisingly the museum majors on Italian manufacturers and expertise in flight. Well I guess da Vinci was Italian!The staff who I believe are volunteers were very knowledgable and enthusiastic. I would suggest a whole day if you are a flight enthusiast. But half a day is more than enough if you are with a four year old. There is an excellent children's section consisting of indoor and outdoor activities. I particularly enjoyed the helicopter and space sections. Of course the Tilt/Rotor (static) display is great.There is also a cafe and the inevitable gift shop.

It is so fun for kids. But I don't have child but I also think it is a nice place. I wondered why there were so less people visited there. I will introduce to my friends who want to visit Italy.

Recommended to me by a friend as I had a day stopover in Milan; without even leaving the airport! Location is perfect and just a 10 minute walk from the terminal at Malpensa.The display of aircraft and memorabilia from the earliest days of aviation to the modern age is done in a very relaxed way which added to the enjoyment. Several of the displays are open to enable a walkthrough of the interior. The volunteers I met were friendly and quite knowledgeable.Most impressive was the display and quality of 1200 model aircraft in display cases. The museum includes both indoor and outdoor play areas for children as well as a restaurant serving lunches.Allow yourself at least 4 hours and the entrance fee was just 9 euro.

biger than i thought it was it even has a corner just about space travel.and one of the biggest airplane model collection i seen so fare.i could have spent the whole day in the musem

Volandia pays tribute to the rich history of aviation and the aerospace industry around the Lombardy region of Italy. The museum covers several hangars, each with a theme of its own - history of the region, fixed wing aircraft, rotary aircraft, future of flight, etc. Life-size and model exhibits were well organized and very comprehensive.Definitely an underrated attraction just outside Milan. And don't forget to try the excellent flight simulators towards the end of the recommended itinerary!

Volandia is a museum that takes its insipiration from the history of the aeronautical industry around Malpensa airport. Starting from the beginning in the 1920s until our days, covers with interesting exibitions the progress of men in flight, especially in Italy, also describing what Italy does with the ESA and its satellites and orbiting station.There are some interesting extras for kids, such as models and especially flight simulators, where extremely competent and nice volunteers help you understanding the basics of flying an aeroplane.I suggest anyone who has a stopover in Malpensa to pay Volandia a visit!!

Very impressed, great afternoon trip. My husband loves aviation and history and this was a very good visit. Far exceeded the expectations.

Found out about this place by accident. As I have to go to Malpensa on business, thought I would give it a try. A short walk (10 mins) over a footbridge from exit 17 in terminal 1 (departures floor) and you are there. Entrance cost of €8 and you're in. Large amount of hangar space to cover, allow a couple of hours to do it properly. Very well presented exhibits and when I was there nearly empty of people, I felt like I had the museum to myself. Staff very friendly and language fluent. Will visit again.

Complimenti a tutti quelli che hanno realizzato questo splendido angolo di storia. Ottimo ambiente , pulito, organizzato e ben gestito.

Ho accompagnato a Volandia un amico appassionato di aeronautica, ottima idea per acculturarsi sul volo e sulla storia dell’aviazione in generale.Il museo è vastissimo ed è nato dove risiedono le storiche officine italiane Caproni, non a caso molte aree visitabili insistono sul ruolo che gli italiani hanno avuto, durante il XX secolo, nel contribuire al mondo del volo.La parte più interessante per me è stata appunto la storia della Caproni, spiegatami in larga parte da un simpatico signore dello staff del museo.Una vera chicca per chi è appassionato di fumetti: si possono vedere alcune tavole di Kaze Tachinu ("Si alza il vento"), manga scritto e disegnato maestro Hayao Miyazaki che narra della vita del famoso progettista di aerei Jirō Horikoshi, molto probabilmente influenzato dal lavoro di Caproni.Spettacolare l'elicottero Chinook, così come il DC-3!

Quando la nipote è rimasta interessata e i nonni stanchi ma soddisfati per la visita effettuata ,significa che tutto ciò che è stato creato e per il materiale presentato in questa vecchia fabbrica sono un risultato più che soddisfacente per i promotori e un vanto per tutta l'aeronautica >Italiana .Dalla simulazione del volo ,gli aerei del passato e gli elicotteri unitamente ad un museo ben rifornito il viaggio è bellissimo e molto interessante .

Non è la prima volta che mi reco a Volandia e devo dire che ci torno sempre volentieri.Direi che non manca nulla, a cominciare dalla strada per arrivarci, è molto comoda visto che Volandia si trova praticamente adiacente a Malpensa.All'interno c'è di tutto, la fanno da padroni ovviamente aerei ed elicotteri, alcuni in scala reale 1:1, ma la maggior parte sono aerei che hanno effettivamente volato e che una volta in disarmo, sono stati donati al museo per essere esposti.C'è un parcheggio gratuito e molto comodo, in più la zona è tranquilla.All'interno, inoltre, ci sono due bar/paninoteche e una vasta zona di giochi e gonfiabili per bambini al coperto.Per non parlare dell'atmosfera, sembra di essere per certi versi tornati indietro nel tempo, quando si muovevano i primi passi per cercare di costruire i primi aerei, non per niente il museo è all'interno delle vecchie officine Caproni, ovviamente ristrutturate a dovere.Non mancano a tal proposito innumerevoli fotografie/stampe e manufatti risalenti a inizio '900.Cinque stelle! assolutamente da visitare.Ci tornerò senz'altro!