What is the Scypionyx Samniticus and why is it special at Paleolab?

Scypionyx Samniticus, affectionately known as 'Ciro', is the first complete dinosaur specimen ever found in Italy and represents an unprecedented paleontological discovery. What makes it exceptionally rare is that it's only a few centimeters long and still preserves visible soft tissues including muscle parts on the shoulder and tail base, along with preserved intestine and liver—details almost never found in dinosaur fossils.

Where is Paleolab Geo-palaeontological Park located and how do I get there?

Paleolab is situated at the eastern edges of Mount Matese in Pietraroja, Italy. The location makes it easily accessible for visitors exploring the Matese region, whether arriving by car or through eco-tourism routes in the area.

What can I expect to see and experience at Paleolab?

Paleolab offers an immersive journey through advanced technology including 3D reconstruction movies, dynamic colored panels, plastic models, and interactive displays that showcase the fascinating evolutionary history of the region. The centerpiece experience is learning about the Matese area as it existed 100 million years ago—a tropical lagoon teeming with fish and reptiles, culminating in the discovery of the remarkable Scypionyx Samniticus.

Is Paleolab suitable for families and school groups?

Yes, Paleolab is designed as a didactic facility that caters primarily to school groups but also welcomes families and eco-tourists of all ages. The facility uses advanced technology and engaging visual presentations to make complex paleontological concepts accessible and entertaining for visitors of different age groups.

Who designed Paleolab and what makes its architecture noteworthy?

Paleolab was designed by renowned architect Paco Lanciano through his firm Mizar, creating a thoughtfully planned didactic building that enhances the visitor experience. The architectural design complements the museum's mission to present Italy's prehistoric past through a combination of innovative design and cutting-edge technology.

Paleolab Geo-palaeontological Park — Pietraroja

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Art, Theaters and Museums 📍 Pietraroja, Italy 174 views

Paleolab Geo-palaeontological Park

The Paleolab of Pietraroja, located at the eastern edges of Matese mount, hides an emotive experience: a magic lift able to transport back in time in a past 100 millions of years old, when Matese was a tropical lagoon populated by fish and reptiles with surprising physical charac...

Photo · Mia R.

Paleolab Geo-palaeontological Park — Pietraroja, Italy.

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Pietraroja

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Art, Theaters and Museums

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About Paleolab Geo-palaeontological Park

Paleolab Geo-palaeontological Park - Pietraroja | Secret World Trip Planner

The Paleolab of Pietraroja, located at the eastern edges of Matese mount, hides an emotive experience: a magic lift able to transport back in time in a past 100 millions of years old, when Matese was a tropical lagoon populated by fish and reptiles with surprising physical characteristics. Among them also a very small dinosaur: the Scypionix Samniticus, “Ciro” for friends. It is the first complete specimen of dinosaur founded in Italy. The finding only just few centimetres long, is an unprecedented case among dinosaur fossils, because it has muscles parts on the shoulder and at the basis of its tail, that are visible still today. It has even parts of intestine and liver. Paleolab has been designed by Mizar of Paco Lanciano. This didactic build offers a tour characterized by several attractiveness. The Paleolab is firstly for school but also for families and eco-tourist, that allows trough the use of advanced technology, to get a total and summary vision of complicated and fascinating evolutive journey populated by fossils – silent witness, colored and dynamic series of panels, 3D recostructions movies, plastic.