Dolomites Close Encounter (Rizzi)
On July 6, 1968, industrial representative Walter Marino Rizzi reported encountering a landed disc-shaped craft at Passo Gardena in the Italian Dolomites at approximately 2,136 meters elevation. According to his account, first made public ten years later in 1978, the silvery object measured roughly 70 to 80 meters in diameter and rested on three support legs. Rizzi described a being of about 1.6 meters height wearing a transparent helmet and silver suit, with whom he communicated telepathically. He later reported physiological effects including persistent fatigue, significant hair loss, and a wristwatch that lost up to two hours daily. Twenty days after the alleged event, he photographed ground impressions and noted abnormally accelerated grass growth at the site. The case is classified as a CE-3 contactee report and remains controversial within ufology due to the decade-long reporting delay and its alignment with classic 1960s contactee narrative patterns.
Background
In 1968, witness Rizzi reported a close encounter with an unidentified object in the Dolomites mountain range in northeastern Italy. The encounter involved close-proximity observation of a structured craft in the remote Alpine terrain.
The Incident
Rizzi observed a structured craft at close proximity during the encounter in 1968. This took place in the remote Alpine terrain of the Dolomites.
Regional Context
Italy has a rich history of UFO sightings dating back to antiquity. The Dolomites region is a recurring location for reported encounters.
The mountainous terrain of the Dolomites, with its dramatic peaks and remote valleys, has been associated with multiple UAP reports over the decades.
Significance
The Rizzi case is documented in Italian ufological literature as one of the notable close encounters in the Alpine region.