The Riserva Naturale Incisioni Rupestri di Ceto, Cimbergo e Paspardo (lit., “Rock Art Natural Reserve of Ceto, Cimbergo, and Paspardo”), established in 1988 upon the previous Foppe di Nadro Park, covers about 300 ha large area, placed in a unique setting of great archaeological, environmental, and ethnographic importance. The archaeological sites within the Reserve, all placed on the Eastern side of Middle Valcamonica, include over 500 rocks, engraved throughout millennia (from prehistoric times to the Middle Ages). Such a rich set of rock art is uniformly distributed, sometimes in thick groups, along the mountain side, starting from Nadro (Ceto), then going up to the village of Cimbergo and continuing, beyond the gorge created by the stream Ré, into the territory of Paspardo.
Rock Art Natural Reserve of Ceto, Cimbergo, Paspardo
The natural milieu is marked by varying environment types, according to altitude. These “bands” of territory were differently exploited over the ages: low height terraces were prevalently cultivated with vineyards and subsistence vegetables; sporadic glades were used for pasturing; the chestnut forests (500–1000 m above sea level) were exploited for food gathering (of chestnuts and other spontaneous fruits), but also for wood and straw collecting; finally, high altitude terrains were used for wood gathering (coniferous forests) and for summer pasturing (high altitude meadows).
Though not perceivable from the bottom of the Valley, the mountainside running from Capo di Ponte to Cimbergo includes several plateaus and is composed of impressive terraces, separated from each other by smooth rocky walls, often many metres high. Areas filled with large fallen boulders and stones are very common, giving evidence of the recurrent phases of instability that characterized the Eastern mountainside over the millennia. This precariousness can be easily regarded as the main cause of many of the bedrocks carved in prehistoric age being hidden under the soil today.
Up to now, researches have brought to light 25 rock art sites, with engravings spanning from prehistoric to medieval times. The areas that are open to visit, limited in number because of obvious preservation and safety reasons, are: Foppe di Nadro (Ceto), Campanine (Cimbergo) and some sub-areas in Paspardo.
Riserva Naturale Incisioni Rupestri di Ceto, Cimbergo e Paspardo
Address: Via Piana 29 – 25040 Nadro di Ceto (Brescia)
Phone: +39 0364 433465
Email: riservaincisioni@gmail.com
OPEN YEAR ROUND
CLOSING DAY: TUESDAY
The Museum is closed also on the following dates: December 25th-26th, January 1st, Easter Sunday
Summer (April 1st-October 31st): 9:00 am – 5:30 pm
Winter (November 1st-March 31st):
- Weekdays: 10:00 am – 2:00 pm
- Saturdays and Sundays: 9:00 am – 4:00 pm
Admission fee: € 5,00 (free for children under 5 years of age)
We also offer guided tours in English – ONLY ON RESERVATION.