Rock Drawings of Val Camonica

One of the world's greatest collection of petroglyphs is in northern Italy, and was also the country's first designated UNESCO World Heritage Site. The site is located just to the north of Lake Iseo in Lombardy region, between Lake Garda and Lake Como.

The National Park of Rock Inscriptions (known officially as Parco Nazionale delle Incisioni Rupestri) takes in a large area. This is considered the world's greatest collection of prehistoric inscriptions with more than 140,000 symbols and figures covering both sides of the valley. They constitute a figurative documentation of the people and customs. They have been studied to interpret the chronology, sociology and ethnology involved. The park was placed on the UNESCO World Heritage list for its unique concentration of inscriptions, their depth and scope, covering thousands of years. They are surprisingly intact considering the age and the park focuses on conservation of the rock surfaces and art images as pollution, climatic conditions and human contact can easily affect them.

This is a place where humans have interacted with their environment since prehistory. There are 180 sites spread around in 24 towns, with the etchings having been completed over about a 12,000 year period! Be sure to start at the museum in Capo di Ponte and visit the park office in Darfo Boario Terme. They can help direct you to the trails and best viewing spots.

http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/94