Art Immortalized In The Rock Drawings Of Valcamonica

In today's world, it is futile to argue against the impact and power of art in human lives. We all know how a piece of art, be it a song, a portrait, a dance, a play and whatever it may be exerts its soothing touch in our day to day affairs. This fact was perhaps equally applicable to our forefathers who left behind their expression of creative zeal and intellectual capacities in the cave arts- carvings and paintings. They are the irreplaceable cultural bequests that celebrate human imagination and its spontaneous expression.

A finest specimen of such ancient rock paintings is located in Valcamonica of the Lombardy region in Italy. It comes as no surprise as Italy itself is a hub for some of the most amazing and jaw dropping cultural manifestations. Deservingly a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the rock drawings of Valcamonica are among the best collections of prehistoric petroglyphs (images created by removing part of a rock surface by incising, pecking, carving, and abrading).

How can you resist the temptation of visiting a 80 km long valley with more than 1,40,00 figures and signs carved in rock over a period of 8,000 years? Well, that is precisely what UNESCO applauded. These carvings and drawings center round various themes like- war, music, agriculture, navigation, festivals and many more. It is quite sensational to know that these art pieces are from different periods of human history and they represent various Ages including- Epipaleolithic, Neolithic, Copper Age, Bronze Age and Iron Age.

You need more reasons to include Valcamonica in your Italy travel plan? If yes, then you can just have a leisurely stroll around the Castle hilltop at Breno, a pensive stay in the town of Cividate and even try some trekking on the Mount Crestoso. All these places are in the same region.So, the time to contemplate is over, its high time to visit Italy and see it beyond Venice and the gondolas.