Thousands of dinosaur footprints discovered near Italy’s Winter Olympics venue PHOTO

Thousands of dinosaur footprints dating back around 210 million years have been discovered in northern Italy, close to a venue set to host events during the 2026 Winter Olympics.

The tracks were found in Stelvio National Park, near the town of Bormio, which will host men’s Alpine skiing during the Milan–Cortina Games, NBC News reports.

Experts say the discovery is one of the oldest and largest collections of dinosaur footprints ever identified.

The find was made by wildlife photographer Elio Della Ferrera while he was photographing deer and vultures in September. He noticed unusual markings on a steep rock face at an altitude of between 2,400 and 2,800 metres (7,900 to 9,200 feet) above sea level, close to the Swiss border.

Palaeontologists estimate there may be up to 20,000 footprints spread across a three-mile stretch of rock. The area, once a prehistoric coastal environment, had never previously yielded dinosaur tracks.

Cristiano Dal Sasso, a palaeontologist at Milan’s Natural History Museum, said the footprints were likely left by long-necked, plant-eating dinosaurs similar to Plateosaurus. The animals may have grown up to 10 metres (33 feet) long and weighed as much as four tonnes.

Some of the prints are around 40 centimetres wide and include visible claw marks. Scientists believe the tracks suggest the dinosaurs travelled in groups and occasionally stopped in circular formations, possibly for protection.

“This time reality really surpasses fantasy,” Dr Dal Sasso said, adding that the animals appeared to be moving calmly rather than running.

The site is difficult to access, located on a north-facing rock wall that remains largely in shadow, making the prints hard to spot without powerful camera equipment.

Lombardy’s regional governor, Attilio Fontana, described the discovery as a “gift for the Olympics”, although the site is too remote to be opened to visitors during the Games. No plans have yet been announced for public access in the future

By Aghakazim Guliyev