Alessandro Volta

Alessandro Volta: The Scientist from Como Who Invented the Electric Battery

Alessandro Volta is undoubtedly the most famous of Como's illustrious citizens. He was a renowned scientist whose studies led to the creation of the electric pile in 1799, the ancestor of today's battery. This invention was so significant that Volta's name was given to the unit of electrical measurement, the volt.

There are numerous landmarks celebrating his memory in the city: most notably the Tempio Voltiano (Volta Temple), which is open daily. The inventions, devices, and instruments used by the scientist are displayed in chronological order; from the electrophorus to the pile, and from the capacitor to the eudiometer, the scientific thought of the great physicist is effectively documented in its gradual development. Alongside the original relics, copies, reproductions, and remains are also on display.