Rock-art of Paspardo

This trip takes us into the chestnut woods to find three wonderful but little-visited rock-art sites in the comune of Paspardo.

Starting from the Capo di Ponte railway station we will walk along the “new” (1980s) road towards Paspardo.  After a while we will leave the asphalt road to take the old path through the chestnut woods towards Paspardo.

Reaching the edge of Paspardo we will turn towards Capitello die Due Pini.  Here we will see Copper Age (3500-2000 BC) rock-art representing male and female figures – perhaps ancestors.  A rock outcrop near Capitello gives us an excellent view over Middle Valcamonica.

Returning to the village of Paspardo we will enter an area of woods, passing under a bridge where we will see a couple of pieces of Copper Age rock-art that were indavertently incorporated into the bridge walls!  We will then reach the In Valle rock-art site, a long, curved rock notable for very large (1 metre or so) images of warriors.  These large figures are strongly concentrated in the Paspardo area.  Here we will ea tour picnin lunch.

Returning from In Valle we will walk down the “new road” until we reach the rock art site of Dos Sotto Laiolo.  Here we will see a variety of Iron Age rock-art, including some fine axes, Camunian Roses and another large warrior figure.  From Dos Sotto Laiolo one has perhaps the best panoramic view in Middle Valcamonica – close to 100 square kilometres is visible!

We will then descend on the old path and rejoin the “new road” to return to Capo di Ponte.

Some photos of the places we will visit:

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  The site of Dos Sotto Laiolo

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  Deer image, Dos Sotto Laiolo, Paspardo

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  Large image of a warrior, Dos Sotto Laiolo, Paspardo

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  Paletta - a sort of small shovel - at Dos Sotto Laiolo, Paspardo

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  Large warrior figure at In Valle, Paspardo

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  Rock-art at In Valle, Paspardo