It was conceived 25 years ago by Ivan Fossa, a passionate naturalist from Puos d’Alpago, in response to numerous requests from local scholars and teachers who wished to see the great natural wealth of the area gathered and preserved in a single structure to be shared with children, young people, families, and all enthusiasts of the rich biodiversity of the Belluno area. The exhibits are spread across the three floors of the building and offer, with an educational focus, interesting collections and specimens from all sections of the Natural Sciences related to the Conca dell’Alpago and the entire province of Belluno.
The visit to the Museum begins with the section dedicated to Vertebrate Zoology on the ground floor. Here, all the faunistic groups of the Belluno area are represented: fish, amphibians, reptiles, birds, and mammals perfectly preserved and donated by Ivan Fossa himself. Continuing the visit to the first floor, the rich collections of insects, spiders, butterflies, and mollusks are added.
Two rooms are also dedicated to Geology and Mineralogy, analyzing the different characteristic aspects of the territory and numerous findings that testify to the geological history of the Alpago and the Dolomites. Some display cases delve into Paleontology, with the jaw of an Odontocete (a species similar to dolphins, which populated the ancient sea of the Alpago) being a rare example, Archaeology, with ancient Roman artifacts found at the Staol di Curago site near Pieve d’Alpago, and Human Anatomy explained through in-depth educational panels. On the top floor, there is a large room dedicated to Botany featuring detailed dioramas that faithfully reproduce some environments populated by animals and prehistoric hunters, the rich collections of fungi and wood samples (xiloteca) and, among the exhibited finds, a jaw of an Odontocete (a species similar to dolphins, which populated the ancient sea of the Alpago) and, in the exhibit dedicated to fish, the well-known Sampierolo, an endemic fish of Lake Santa Croce.
Free entry with the possibility of guided tours by reservation only for groups of at least 6 people during the week and on weekends.
