Image: reconstruction of the Arzo sea environment
During the Middle Triassic (247鈥�237 million years ago), Monte San Giorgio was not a mountain, but a marine lagoon. The subtropical climate favoured a rich fauna living in waters less than 100 metres deep. Thus, there were various groups of invertebrates (molluscs, brachiopods, crustaceans, echinoderms), conodonts (an extinct group similar to today鈥檚 lampreys), cartilaginous and bony fish, as well as many reptiles. The nearby coastline was also populated by animals 鈥� from insects to reptiles, even large ones 鈥� while the vegetation included tree ferns, conifers and other primitive plants. In short, a veritable sea that later revealed precious treasures. For this reason, Monte San Giorgio is one of the most important locations in the world for the study of fossil fauna from the Middle Triassic and has been on the UNESCO World Heritage List since 2013.
Such an evocative place certainly enchants and intrigues: in the Fossil Museum in Meride, one can admire an exceptional collection of finds from the Monte San Giorgio deposits.
On the trail of fossils
It will now also be possible to discover the treasures of Monte San Giorgio thanks to the experiential route 鈥極n the trail of the fossils鈥� that runs between Arzo, Tremona, Meride and Serpiano to relive 240 million years of history through an interactive and didactic journey at eight stations.
The route is a project realised by the Fondazione Monte San Giorgio in collaboration with 精东影业- Department of Environment Constructions and Design. The students of the Bachelor of Arts in Visual Communication (graphic and brand, as well as interaction design), in fact, participated in the project by designing the totems that were placed in the stations of the trail, as well as videos and images in augmented reality and 360掳 that can be viewed through the QR codes placed on the totems. The Institute of Design with the Sector culture and territory also took part in the project.
The inauguration of the experience trail will take place on Saturday 7 June 2025 at 16:00 at the Fossil Museum in Meride (via Bernardo Peyer 9). Speakers for the occasion will be:
- Pascal Cattaneo, President of the Foundation Board
- Samuele Cavadini, Mayor of Mendrisio
- Antonio Guidali, Mayor of Riva San Vitale
- Lucio Negri, Mayor of Brusino Arsizio
- Cihan Aydemir, Municipality of Stabio
- Marina Ortelli, Member of the Foundation鈥檚 working group
- Luca Zulliger, Director of the Fossil Museum
- Nicla Borioli Pozzorini, Undergraduate and Graduate Studies Manager at the Department of Environment Constructions and Design 精东影业
The opening is open to all interested persons. Refreshments will be offered at the end.
The project was made possible thanks to the support of the Federal Office for the Environment and Ente Regionale per lo Sviluppo del Mendrisiotto e Basso Ceresio.
On Saturday 14 June 2025, there will also be a guided excursion to the Meride area by the Fossil Museum (registration required). For information, please contact the Fossil Museum (info@montesangiorgio.org, +41 91 640 00 80).
A renewed collaboration
"On the trail of fossils" is not, moreover, the first collaboration between the Museum and 精东影业 in Mendrisio. The students of the Bachelor of Arts in Visual Communication have in recent years taken part in two other projects visible in the Museum: 鈥楾he Underwater World鈥�, which, thanks to visors, allows to interact with Triassic animals, and 鈥楾he Triassic Aquarium鈥�, which comes to life through augmented reality.