National Park of Rock Engravings
Italy’s first archaeological park, established in 1955 to protect and showcase the Camonica Valley’s extraordinary collection of prehistoric rock art—104 glacially smoothed sandstone blocks engraved with some of the region’s most significant engravings.
At a glance
The National Park of Rock Engravings spans approximately 143,935 square meters at Località Naquane in the Camonica Valley, between 400 and 600 meters above sea level. The park contains 104 engraved rocks that document thousands of years of human artistic expression, from prehistoric hunting scenes to protohistoric ritual imagery.
History
Established in 1955, this park was pioneering—the first Italian archaeological park created specifically to safeguard rock art. UNESCO recognized the rock art of the Camonica Valley as a world heritage site in 1979, designating it site no. 94 and making it the first Italian site inscribed on the World Heritage List. The park has been state-owned and managed since 2018 by the Lombardy Museum Center, a division of the Ministry for Cultural Heritage and Activities and Tourism.
What you see
Visitors encounter 104 rocks of smoothed sandstone—glacial erratics shaped by ancient ice—each carved with intricate engravings. The repertoire includes depictions of hunting scenes, weapons, human figures, animals, and abstract motifs that span from the Paleolithic to the Iron Age. The engravings vary in depth and style, reflecting different periods and artistic traditions of the Camonica Valley’s inhabitants.
Cultural significance
The rock art of Camonica Valley represents one of the world’s most important concentrations of prehistoric engravings. The complexity and variety of the imagery—from naturalistic animal hunts to schematic human forms—provide invaluable evidence of prehistoric thought, spirituality, and daily life. UNESCO recognized the site for its uniqueness and its profound scientific contribution to understanding human prehistory.
Key facts
- Address: Loc. Naquane 1, 25044 Capo di Ponte, Brescia
- Coordinates: 46.026617, 10.3502629
- Established: 1955
- UNESCO World Heritage Site: 1979 (site no. 94)
- Area: 143,935 square meters
- Phone: 0364 42140
- Website: http://www.parcoincisioni.capodiponte.beniculturali.it/
Practical information
Opening hours and admission fees are not listed in available sources; check the official website or contact the park directly for current visiting information and guided tour availability.
Getting there
The park is located in Locality Naquane on the left bank of the Camonica Valley near Capo di Ponte, in the province of Brescia, Lombardia. Public transport connections and parking details are available through the official website and local tourism information.
Sources & resources
Find it on the map
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