Valcamonica

An open-air museum of petroglyphs

Known throughout the world for its rich, varied displays of ancient petroglyphs on engraved rocks. It was the first Italian site to be nominated, in 1979, as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. We are talking about Valcamonica, or Valle Camonica, which includes more than 180 localities scattered in 24 municipalities between the provinces of Bergamo and Brescia.

Starting from the shores of Lake Iseo and going up the valley along the Oglio river, your first stop should be the Municipal Park of rock engravings of Luine. Here, along three different routes, you can see the oldest rock engravings of the Camunian cycle which date back to the Mesolithic age.

At the center of Valcamonica is Capo di Ponte, famous for its three archaeological parks. Naquane, where you can see over one hundred rocks with engravings ranging from the Neolithic to the Iron Age. Those of Seradina-Bedolina and Massi of Cemmo, which collapsed at the beginning of the Holocene era, were decorated with animals, anthropomorphic figures, agricultural scenes and transport on carts.

Going up the valley, you’ll arrive at the rock engravings Natural Reserve of Ceto, Cimbergo and Paspardo, the largest protected archaeological area in Valcamonica, covering 300 hectares, with over 550 engraved stones. Some of the routes are also accessible to people with disabilities, in particular in Breno, Darfo Boario Terme and Sonico, with the support of local social cooperatives.