UNESCO World Heritage
Monte San Giorgio
A sea of memories
Monte San Giorgio rises up between the southern arms of Lake Lugano. Besides the magnificent view of the lake landscape, the 1,097-metre high mountain provides a window to prehistoric times. 240-million-year-old fossils can be found within it. Where there was once a sea basin with different reptiles, fish and plants, Monte San Giorgio formed along with the development of the Alps. Perfectly maintained fossils have been found and investigated here for 150 years. The region is one of the best testimonials to sea life from the Triassic period. The Fossil Museum in Meride, which has been renovated by the architect Mario Botta, ensures insights into this long extinct world.
Factsheet
Date of Inscription
2003 (2010 extension)
Criteria of Inscription
Category
Natural Heritage
Transnational property
Region
Switzerland: Ticino
Other Countries: Italy
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Visitor centre
Monte San Giorgio
Monte San Giorgio
On four floors, the great diversity of creatures that populated the sea and its coast in southern Ticino between 247 and 237 million years ago is presented. Thanks ...
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Museum
Monte San Giorgio
Monte San Giorgio
Experience Triassic Park - Virtual Reality
Walk on the beach of Meride in the Middle Triassic period, 240 million years ago. Admire the animals that inhabited ...
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Point of interest
Monte San Giorgio
Monte San Giorgio
The sea of Acqua del Ghiffo and Aula di Carpanee. An outdoor teaching station immersed in the forest.
A didactic classroom 30 minutes' walk from the village ...
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Hikes
Monte San Giorgio
Monte San Giorgio
Immerse yourself in the incredible thrill of a lost world, dating back more than 200 million years. Then explore the geo-paleontological path at the UNESCO World ...
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Hikes
Monte San Giorgio
Monte San Giorgio
Monte San Giorgio is a UNESCO World Heritage Site because of the fossil finds from the Triassic Period. These are on exhibit in the museum of Meride. Other highlights: ...
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Route
Monte San Giorgio
Monte San Giorgio
A special itinerary dedicated to all those who, despite a motor disability, want to return to outdoor recreation, to practice a sport.
Starting from Hotel Serpiano, ...
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Attraction
Monte San Giorgio
Monte San Giorgio
Workshop
A journey through stone processing.
The regeneration and restoration of the original production site have enabled the Patriziato di Arzo to develop the ...
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Point of interest
Monte San Giorgio
Monte San Giorgio
In April 2019 the Terrace of the Val Mara has been inaugurated. It is a sort of classroom in the woods for a mixed audience of adults and young people ...
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Destination
Monte San Giorgio
Monte San Giorgio
Programme suggestion to discover the UNESCO World Heritage Site "Monte San Giorgio" in one day.
10:00 - 10:45 guided fossil walk
Embark ...
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Destination
Monte San Giorgio
Monte San Giorgio
Programme suggestion to discover the UNESCO World Heritage Site "Monte San Giorgio" in one day.
9:00 - 11:00 Fossil Museum Monte San Giorgio in Meride
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Good to know
Monte San Giorgio
Monte San Giorgio
The mountain is the best testimonial to sea life from the Triassic period. The 240-million-year-old history of these forms of life can be experienced at the Museum ...
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Good to know
Monte San Giorgio
Monte San Giorgio
Criterion (viii): Monte San Giorgio is the single best-known record of marine life in the Triassic period and records important remains of life on land as well. ...
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Our heritage
Monte San Giorgio
Monte San Giorgio
What is your role of the museum this UNESCO World Heritage site
The Museum of Fossils of Meride, in which you can admire numerous fossils belonging to the living ...
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Good to know
Monte San Giorgio
Monte San Giorgio
History
The finds at Monte San Giorgio provide clues about the origin of these organism. Tracing their development back, we reach their primal forms, which can ...
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Good to know
Monte San Giorgio
Monte San Giorgio
Monte San Giorgio today
Geological setting
The topography of Monte San Giorgio was created at the same time as the surrounding Alps, when, 95 millions years ...
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