Rock Drawings in Valcamonica

The Rock Drawings in Valcamonica are a major ensemble of prehistoric petroglyphs located in the Camonica Valley, Lombardy, representing one of Europe’s most extensive concentrations of rock engravings.

Engravings cover a wide range of subjects including human figures, tools, animals and symbolic motifs and were produced over many millennia from the Neolithic into the Iron Age. Significant concentrations are protected within parks such as Naquane and Seradina-Bedolina, where trails and signage provide public access and interpretation.

Archaeological study over the 20th century established the valley as a major record of prehistoric art and cultural change in Alpine foothill environments.

The engraved panels occur throughout the Camonica Valley near the town of Capo di Ponte in the province of Brescia, surrounded by agricultural landscapes and mountain foothills.

• Scale of the engravings: The valley contains one of the largest collections of prehistoric rock carvings in Europe, with figure counts often cited in the hundreds of thousands across many sites.
• Chronology and access: Protected parks provide trails and interpretation; panels span periods from Neolithic through the Iron Age, showing changes in style and subject matter over millennia.

What to See #

• Naquane Archaeological Park: Naquane Archaeological Park at Capo di Ponte, the principal protected area displaying dense concentrations of petroglyph panels and open-air rock faces.
• Seradina-Bedolina: Seradina-Bedolina sector, an extended archaeological area with engraved sequences spanning multiple prehistoric phases and associated walking trails.