Leviathan and the Sirens

The great temporary exhibition, which brings together one of the most important collections of cetacean fossils in Europe, has been extended until December 2026, featuring internationally rare specimens that enrich the permanent route.

The project tells the story of the Astigiano as a territory of geo-paleontological excellence, among the most significant on the continent.

In the Pliocene epoch, between 5.3 and 2.6 million years ago, this area was partly covered by a sea that occupied the entire Po Valley, leaving a legacy of finds of great charm and interest.

Among the terrestrial wonders of the era: rhinoceroses, mastodons, sabre-toothed tigers, and macaques, today associated with tropical environments like Florida or India, yet they once lived right here.

Fossil masterpieces

The absolute protagonist is the Vigliano sperm whale, about ten meters long and the only specimen of a Pliocene sperm whale in the world, presented after ten months of restoration.

Upon its discovery in 1929, it was mistaken for the skeleton of a sea serpent.

Alongside the sperm whale, exhibited for the first time: the Montiglio dugong and a ziphiid discovered in 1954 in the surroundings of Vigliano d’Asti.

The Tersilla whale remains on display, a unique find and the oldest whale in the Mediterranean, found in Moleto.

The Montafia rorqual and the Camerano Casasco dolphin have instead returned to the permanent collection.

Objectives and collaborations

The exhibition aims to enhance these unique finds and support the candidacy of the Astigiano Territorial Paleontological Park as a UNESCO World Heritage site.

The immersive experience is completed by a video on the discovery of the sperm whale and a paleo-videogame that transports visitors into the shoes of Mary Anning, amidst virtual waves and marine sounds.

The exhibition is the result of a collaboration between the Astigiano Paleontological Park, the Paleontological District, the University of Turin, the Municipality of Asti, the Piedmont Region, and local foundations, with scientific coordination by Graziano Delmastro, Piero Damarco, Michelangelo Bisconti, and Alessandra Fassio.