Geopaleontological Museum "Ardito Desio" in Rocca di Cave - LAZIO - ITALY

The Geopaleontological Museum "Ardito Desio" in Rocca di Cave, located in the historic Rocca Colonna at an altitude of about 1,000 meters, offers a fascinating journey through the geological history of Lazio. From its terraces, visitors can admire a breathtaking panorama that stretches over 100 kilometers, from the Tyrrhenian coast to the heart of the Apennines.

The museum's exhibition is spread across five thematic rooms, where original artifacts, 3D models, and sound installations illustrate the most significant geological events of the region, the diverse types of rocks, and fossils from a coral reef dating back 100 million years. The museum also features an astronomical observatory and an educational planetarium, enriching the experience with activities such as excursions to the fossil coral reef and evening observations of the starry sky.

The rocky outcrops around Rocca di Cave bear witness to the existence of an ancient coral reef active during the Cretaceous period, between 140 and 65 million years ago. These formations are unique in Lazio, as they preserve the remains of numerous marine organisms that once formed the reef.