Naquane National Park of Rock Engravings

A prehistoric treasure in the heart of Val Camonica

The Naquane National Park of Rock Engravings, Italy’s first archaeological park and the first site in the “Bel Paese” to be recognised as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1979, is a veritable open-air museum. It stretches out on a hillside on the slopes of Pizzo Badile Camuno in Val Camonica. 

Among birch, ash and chestnut trees, you can venture out to discover 140 rocks engraved by the ancient inhabitants of the valley between the 5th and 1st millennium BC, from the Neolithic to the Iron Age. The park covers 30 hectares, but visitors can easily explore this place, which is bursting with charm and history, thanks to the five well-marked routes of varying lengths. 

One of the most important attractions is Rock No. 1, which features hundreds of engravings, while Rock No. 70 presents what scholars have identified as the oldest depiction of the Celtic deity, Cernunnos. 

The shortest route takes about an hour to complete, while visitors who want to enjoy a more comprehensive visit should plan to spend at least four hours in the park—it will be worth it!