The Paleontological Museum is located in the church of Sant'Antonio, part of a small hospitable center, built in the 14th century in an area then outside the town of Ovada; subject to renovations in the 18th century, it was interdicted for worship in 1840, after being used as a lazaret during a cholera epidemic, and in 1882 it was turned into a prison. The museum is dedicated to Giulio Maini, a passionate naturalist from Ovada, in memory of his work in collecting and preserving minerals and fossils, much of which came from the area, and the work of popularization and education carried out by the Briata-Maini family over the past two decades.
The exhibition combines in the project a scientific value and a strong didactic imprint, constituting an interesting reference point for students, researchers, Paleontology enthusiasts and those who want to know, through tangible and eloquent examples, the fascinating oldest history of the territory, indelibly written in the soil and rocks.
The tour develops from the illustration of the main topics related to the study of fossils, and then descends into the details of the different geological eras, the general characters of which are summarized, especially with reference to the evolutionary history of different living organisms and their natural paleoenvironment. The conservator of the museum is paleontologist Dr. Piero Damarco.
Museo paleontologico Giulio Maini
Address: Via Sant' Antonio, 17, 15076
Phone: 0143822815
Site:
http://www.museopaleontologicomaini.it/Location inserted by
CHO.earth