Centro di Paleontologia Vegetale
Centro di Paleontologia Vegetale, Natural history museum in Avigliano Umbro, Italy.
The Plant Paleontology Center holds a collection of fifty giant conifer trunks preserved in their original position, displaying characteristics of ancient wood structures.
The fossil forest emerged during excavations at a clay quarry in the 1970s, leading to the establishment of the research center in the late 1990s.
The center presents geological and climatic features through artifacts, explanatory panels, and scale models to educate visitors about prehistoric plant life.
Visitors need to join guided tours and wear appropriate footwear for outdoor exploration, as the site remains exposed to environmental conditions.
Dating between 3 and 2 million years old, the preserved tree trunks reveal plant species that inhabited this region during the Pliocene period.
Location: Avigliano Umbro
Accessibility: Accessibile in sedia a rotelle
Phone: +390744940348
Email: info@forestafossile.it
Website: http://forestafossile.it
GPS coordinates: 42.66105,12.45924
Latest update: March 3, 2025 03:12
Umbria preserves traces of over two millennia of history through its archaeological sites, religious monuments, and remarkable natural formations. The region features underground complexes such as Orvieto Underground with its 1,200 passages carved into volcanic tuff, and Narni Underground, revealing medieval chapels and remains of Roman aqueducts. Visitors also explore the Dunarobba Fossil Forest, where 50 petrified tree trunks dating back three million years showcase the region's geological evolution. Medieval castles like Rocca Albornoziana overlook ancient towns, while monasteries such as San Pietro in Valle and Eremo delle Carceri maintain medieval art and spirituality. The Umbrian landscape stretches from Gubbio's Roman theaters to mountain villages like Castelluccio, perched at 1,452 meters (4,764 feet) above sea level, and includes the Nera Natural Park, which protects over 2,120 hectares (5,243 acres) of forests and limestone formations. These sites trace the region’s history from the Etruscan civilization through the Renaissance.
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