Good to know about

Seceda is not only a beautiful mountain in Val Gardena with breathtaking views, but also a site of exceptional geological significance worldwide. Unique fossils from the geological formations of Seceda – including the carbonised remains of the conifer Ortiseia, the fish Archaeolepidotus, and skeletal remains of the large ichthyosaur Cymbospondylus – are valuable records of Earth’s history and attract geologists from around the world to Val Gardena.

In collaboration with palaeontologist Andrea Tintori from the University of Milan, the Museum Gherdëina has created a stratigraphic panel explaining the sequence of rock layers and the fossil discoveries of Seceda. This panel is now accessible to hikers and visitors at the Furnes mid-station at the foot of Seceda.

The fossilised remains of the ichthyosaur were discovered in 1968 on the northern slope of Seceda and are among the oldest of their kind worldwide. This ancient marine reptile tells the story of its habitat in the primordial Tethys Ocean, which it dominated for nearly 100 million years – at a time when the Dolomites were still submerged beneath a coral sea. Seceda has proven to be a true treasure trove of historical relics and discoveries. Thanks to its geological layering, which reveals the formation history of this area, it is now considered a natural monument of inestimable value.

Although the ichthyosaur Cymbospondylus lived around 241 million years ago, it is still possible to encounter it today – thanks to virtual reality and a new attraction at the Museum Gherdëina.

Did you know that three official languages are spoken in Val Gardena? Italian, German and Ladin – a Rhaeto-Romance language with over 2,000 years of history, now spoken by around 45,000 people in the four Dolomite valleys surrounding the Sella massif.

For this reason, mountains, villages and hiking areas also bear Ladin names, which you can discover on signposts and trail maps along the routes.