Museo dei fossili del Monte San Giorgio

About the museum

The fossil museum is located in the village centre of Meride at the foot of Monte San Giorgio, whose Middle Triassic strata are among the richest sites of marine vertebrates in the world and are part of the UNESCO World Heritage. The mountain’s fossils have been recovered, prepared and scientifically described by Swiss and Italian specialists since the mid-19th century.

The present building was converted and extended by the Ticinese architect Mario Botta and opened on 13 October 2012. On four floors it leads from the oldest finds of the Besano Formation through the layers of the Meride Limestone to the younger Jurassic fossils. One section is devoted to the last 150 years, from the mining of oil shale and the production of the remedy Saurolo to modern palaeontological excavation.

Besides the classic exhibition with original fossils and reconstructions, the museum relies on digital interpretation: virtual reality, augmented reality and mixed reality bring the Triassic world back to life. In the Preparatorium Auri laboratory, visitors can sometimes watch specialists at work preparing fossils. The museum also includes outdoor sites on the mountain, such as a viewing terrace, an excavation site with a classroom and hiking trails around Monte San Giorgio.

Highlights

• Fossils of reptiles, fishes and ammonites from the UNESCO World Heritage site Monte San Giorgio
• Reconstruction of the land reptile Ticinosuchus at the entrance
• Mixed-reality experience “Dragons Alive” with a swarm of prehistoric reptiles in the museum
• VR journeys “Il mondo sommerso” and “Meride Beach” into the Triassic
• Preparation laboratory Preparatorium Auri and the Val Mara viewing terrace

Permanent exhibitions

• Dauerausstellung über vier Stockwerke – Original fossils and reconstructions from the Triassic and Jurassic strata of Monte San Giorgio, plus a section on the industrial history and research of the mountain.
• Dragons Alive – Mixed-reality tour with special glasses: twelve Triassic species, including marine reptiles and fishes, appear life-size in the museum rooms.
• Aussenstationen am Monte San Giorgio – Val Mara viewing terrace, excavation site with classroom at Acqua del Ghiffo and other places in the terrain, reachable on foot from the museum.

Director

Luca Zulliger

Admission & discounts

The VR experiences “Meride Beach”, “Il mondo sommerso” and “Acquario Triassico” are included in the admission price; “Dragons Alive” costs extra. Free admission with the Swiss Museum Pass, Raiffeisen MemberPlus, AG Kultur and press card (each on presentation of the card).

Accessibility

• Wheelchair accessible
• Elevator
• Accessible restroom
• Accessible parking
• Service dogs welcome
• Tactile models & exhibits
• Sign language tours: no information
• Easy-to-read materials: no information
• Audio description: no information

The museum spans four floors with a lift and is accessible to people with disabilities; only the VR room “Meride Beach” is not accessible (the experience is also possible outdoors). The cobbled inner courtyard is unsuitable for wheelchairs. The accessible toilet with changing table is on the ground floor; there are no toilets on the other floors; there is plenty of seating in the building. Disabled parking spaces are 140 metres from the museum, and drop-off and pick-up is possible directly in front of the entrance. For visually impaired visitors there are adapted tours, tactile models of fossils and scent stations.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Family tours & workshops
• Activity booklet, scavenger hunt or kids’ audio guide
• Hands-on stations
• Baby changing facilities

According to the museum, the content is suitable for visitors aged 3 to 99; there are children’s audio guides, tactile and scent stations and a special family package with recommended hikes. “Dragons Alive” is for ages 10 and up.

Getting there & parking

The museum recommends arriving by public transport. By car it is 25 km (25 minutes) from Lugano, 14 km (15 minutes) from Chiasso, 7 km (10 minutes) from Mendrisio, 20 km (35 minutes) each from Varese or Como, 65 km (55 minutes) from Locarno and 60 km (45 minutes) from Bellinzona.

Amenities & dining

• Museum shop

The visitor centre on the ground floor offers tourist information, a refreshment area and the museum shop.

Events & venue rental

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Plan your visit