Museo Speleo Paleontologico e Archeologico di San Vittore

The Speleopalaeontological and Archaeological Museum of San Vittore interprets the geology, fossils and human history of the Frasassi area.

Why it matters

The museum was created around the fossil of a Jurassic ichthyosaur discovered at Camponocecchio in 1976. Its collections connect the limestone landscape and caves of Frasassi with prehistoric and later human settlement in the surrounding territory.

What to notice

The museum presents karst geology and cave environments, the ichthyosaur known as Marta and other fossils from the gorge, and archaeological material including Final Bronze Age cinerary urns from Pianello di Genga.

Context and history

The museum opened in 2006 in the remains of the medieval cenobium beside the Abbey of San Vittore alle Chiuse. The ichthyosaur was discovered during road construction in 1976; its recovery prompted the creation of a permanent local exhibition. The adjoining monastic complex dates to the eleventh and twelfth centuries.