Paleolab (Ex church of St. Thomas)

Museum of the paleontological collections of southern Umbria

Umbria, its geological transformation and the animals that populated the territory up to 300 000 years ago are at the centre of the Paleolab museum itinerary. Since 2002, the former church of St. Thomas has been home to the first museum of the paleontological collections in southern Umbria. Designed especially for children but extremely interesting for adults as well, the exhibition, completely renovated in 2012, shows the phenomena that transform the Earth and allows visitors to closely observe the fossils of animals that lived in our area. If ammonites swam in the sea that covered Umbria until their extinction 65 million years ago, ample space is given to the fossils of the animals that later populated the Tiber Basin: among the most important pieces is the complete skeleton of an Axis nestii, found in anatomic connection, namely fossilized in the same position in which the animal died.

The church of St. Thomas was the patriarchal possession of St John the Lateran. At the time of free towns, it was also the location of town council meetings. The space existing between the it and the nearby church of San Cristoforo was called Camporeale because it belonged to the Camporeale family that came to Terni in the retinue of Federico Barbarossa.

Visits by appointment only from Thursday to Sunday

For information and reservations: https://www.caos.museum/musei/paleolab/