In the heart of the Italian Alps, researchers have made a remarkable paleontological discovery. In the Stelvio National Park Stilfser Joch, on the Lombardy side between Bormio and Livigno, thousands of fossilized dinosaur footprints have been uncovered, as reported in detail by the Italian public broadcaster RaiNews , among others. The find is already considered one of the most significant of its kind in Europe and sheds light on a little-known chapter of Italian prehistory. The tracks were discovered in September 2025, more or less by chance, and were only recently announced at a press conference in Milan. Wildlife photographer Elio Della Ferrera was exploring the Valle di Fraele when he noticed unusual formations on a steep rock face. Initial photographs confirmed the suspicion that these could be ancient footprints. Subsequent analyses revealed that the tracks are approximately 210 million years old and date back to the Late Triassic period, as reported by the Italian news agency ANSA . The scientific investigation is being conducted in part by Cristiano Dal Sasso of the Natural History Museum of Milan .
Stilfser Joch: Traces from Another World
Based on findings to date, up to 20,000 individual footprints have been documented. They are spread across multiple rock surfaces and ridges, extending over hundreds of meters and in some cases over several kilometers. Today, the tracks appear on nearly vertical Dolomite rock faces at elevations above 6,500 feet. These rock layers were originally horizontal, but the formation of the Alps gradually tilted them upright over millions of years. The imprints come primarily from large herbivorous dinosaurs, likely from the group of prosauropods, early relatives of the later long-necked sauropods. Some of the footprints measure up to 16 inches in diameter and display remarkably well-preserved details such as toe and claw impressions. The arrangement of the tracks suggests that the animals moved in groups or herds, a detail also highlighted by the Italian daily La Repubblica .
Research Under Extreme Conditions
Among experts , the find is considered of outstanding international significance. Comparable concentrations of dinosaur tracks are rare worldwide, especially in this quantity and state of preservation. At the same time, the terrain presents researchers with considerable challenges: the sites are steep, situated at high altitude, and difficult to access. Modern methods such as drones, 3D surveying, and digital mapping are therefore being used to fully document the tracks. Stelvio National Park is one of Italy's largest protected areas, and no plans for tourist development of the sites are currently in place. The clear priority lies with scientific research and conservation. Nevertheless, the find has attracted attention well beyond the region, not least because the area is situated ahead of the Milan–Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics.
A Window into Italy's Prehistoric Past
This spectacular discovery impressively illustrates how rich and diverse Italy's natural and geological history truly is. Where hikers, cyclists, and nature lovers roam today, dinosaurs moved through an entirely different landscape more than 200 million years ago. The find at Stilfser Joch makes clear that Italy's mountains are not only spaces of nature and culture, but also archives of a distant past. A story that is now slowly being uncovered, one track at a time.
Stelvio National Park The Parco Nazionale dello Stelvio is one of Italy's largest protected areas, spanning parts of Lombardy, South Tyrol, and Trentino. Founded in 1935, it safeguards a high-alpine landscape of glaciers, Dolomite and Ortler rock formations, and a rich diversity of flora and fauna. The area is home to ibex, bearded vultures, and marmots, and plays a central role in alpine nature and landscape conservation.