Val Camonica

Val Camonica
Al Camònega
Val Camonica Location of Val Camonica within the Alps
Floor elevation	1,883 m (6,178 ft)
Area	1,335 square kilometres (515 sq mi)
Geography
Coordinates	46°00′27″N 10°20′51″E
Rivers	River Oglio

Position of Val Camonica in Lombardy

Flag of Val Camonica

Mount Concarena

Map of Val Camonica (16th C., The Gallery of Maps, Vatican Museums)

Rock engravings, Nadro

Roman anphitheater at Cividate Camuno

Portal of the parish church of St Siro, Capo di Ponte

The castle at Breno

Tower in Bienno

Church of the Holy Trinity, Esine

Val Camonica (also Valcamonica or Camonica Valley, local dialect: Al Camònega) is one of the largest valleys of the central Alps, in eastern Lombardy, Italy. It extends about 90 kilometres (56 mi) from the Tonale Pass to Corna Trentapassi, in the commune of Pisogne near Lake Iseo. It has an area of about 1,335 km² (515 sq mi) and 118,323 inhabitants.

The River Oglio runs through its full length, rising at Ponte di Legno and flowing into Lake Iseo between Pisogne and Costa Volpino.

Almost all of the valley is included in the administrative territory of the province of Brescia, except for Lovere, Rogno, Costa Volpino and the Val di Scalve, which belong to the province of Bergamo.

Etymology

Val Camonica is derived from the Latin Vallis Camunnorum, "Valley of the Camunni."

Geography

Territory

Val Camonica can be divided into three main areas:

1. Lower Val Camonica: a flat area of meadows and fields, starting from the shores of Lake Iseo and extending to the transverse ridge of Bienno, sometimes referred to as the Breno Threshold.
2. Middle Val Camonica: extending from the Breno Threshold to the municipality of Sonico – Edolo. The lower middle valley extends from Breno to Sellero, while the upper middle valley starts at the narrow gorge at Cedegolo and extends to Sonico – Edolo.
3. High Val Camonica: This part of the valley follows the Periadriatic Seam, and is oriented from east to west. Starting in the Val di Corteno, it continues as to the town of Ponte di Legno at the top of the valley. Its climate is similar to that of central Valtellina.

The valley is bounded by these borders:

North	East	South	West
Province of Sondrio Valtellina Valfurva	Trentino Val di Sole Val Rendena Province of Brescia Val Trompia Val Sabbia	Lake Iseo Province of Bergamo Val Borlezza	Province of Bergamo Val Cavallina Val Seriana Val di Scalve

Hydrography

Val Camonica is traversed by the River Oglio, the fifth longest river in Italy, which rises at Ponte di Legno from the confluence of the Frigidolfo and Narcanello rivers. It flows into Lake Iseo between the municipalities of Pisogne and Costa Volpino.

Numerous streams, some of them seasonal, descend from the mountainsides and flow into the Oglio.

At high altitude there are many alpine lakes, including Lago Moro, as well as many artificial reservoirs, such as the Lago d'Arno.

History

Val Camonica likely became habitable only around 15,000 years ago, at the end of last Ice Age, with the melting of the glacier that first carved out the valley. It is likely that the first humans visited the valley in epipaleolithic times, and appear to have settled by the Neolithic period. When the Ancient Romans extended their dominions north of the River Po, they encountered a people called the Camunni, of unknown origin, populating the valley. About 300,000 petroglyphs survive from this period. By the end of the first century BC, the Valle Camonica was ruled by Ancient Rome, which established the city of Cividate Camuno, with baths, an amphitheater and a large temple dedicated to Minerva.

During the Middle Ages, numerous clashes between the Guelphs and Ghibellines took place in this region. The Guelphs supported the power of the Bishop of Brescia and the papacy, while the Ghibellines sided with the Holy Roman Emperor. In 1287 the Val Camonica rebelled against control by Brescia and sided with the Visconti, lords of Milan, who extended their control over the area during the 14th century. From 1427 to 1454 there were numerous battles between Milan and the Republic of Venice for the control of the valley. Ultimately the valley came under the control of Venice. During the following centuries, the civilian population grew and engaged in the iron trade.

Val Camonica was separated from Venice after Venice was conquered by Napoleon in 1797. After the deposition of Napoleon, the area was controlled by the Austro-Hungarian Empire. In 1859, Val Camonica was annexed to the Kingdom of Italy. During World War I battle lines stretched along its eastern border, across the Adamello Group. The battles fought in this area are known as the White War in the Adamello.

In 1955, the National Park of Naquane stone carvings at Capo di Ponte was created by the Archaeological Administration of Lombardy.

Monuments and places of interest

UNESCO Site

Further information: Rock Drawings in Valcamonica

Val Camonica is home to the greatest complex of rock drawings in Europe, containing approximately 300,000 petroglyphs from the epipaleolithic era to the middle ages.

• Parco nazionale delle incisioni rupestri di Naquane in Capo di Ponte
• Parco archeologico nazionale dei massi di Cemmo
• Parco archeologico comunale di Seradina-Bedolina in Capo di Ponte
• Parco archeologico di Asinino-Anvòia in Ossimo
• Parco archeologico comunale di Luine in Darfo Boario Terme
• Parco archeologico comunale di Sellero
• Parco archeologico comunale di Sonico
• Riserva naturale Incisioni rupestri di Ceto, Cimbergo e Paspardo in Nadro

Medieval villages

• Bienno, recognised as one of the Most Beautiful Villages of Italy
• Lovere, also recognised as one of the Most Beautiful Villages of Italy
• Pescarzo (Capo di Ponte), a characteristic small town.

Castles

• Castle of Breno, the largest castle in Val Camonica
• Castle of Gorzone, home of the Federici family, standing on a small hill next to the Dezzo torrent
• Castle of Cimbergo, in the valley of the Re, dominates the middle Valley
• Castle of Lozio, the fortress where the Lozio Massacre occurred
• Castle of Mù, the Federici bastion in the upper valley, of which only the foundations remain

Roman city

• Theatre and Anphitheater at Cividate Camuno
• Temple of Minerva at Breno

Mountain excursions

• CAI paths in the Parco dell'Adamello
• First World War (so-called "Guerra Bianca in Adamello") trench at Vezza d'Oglio

Roman Baths

• Boario Terme
• Angolo Terme

Museums and theme parks

• Parco tematico Archeopark, Darfo Boario Terme
• Museo etnografico del ferro, delle arti e tradizioni popolari, Bienno
• Museo Civico Camuno, Breno
• Museo didattico di arte e vita preistorica, Capo di Ponte
• Museo didattico della riserva, Nadro
• Museo archeologico di Valle Camonica, Cividate Camuno
• Mostra museo Camillo Golgi, Corteno Golgi
• Museo etnografico, Ossimo
• Museo parrocchiale d'arte sacra, Ponte di Legno
• Museo della Guerra Bianca in Adamello, Temù

Notable sanctuaries and churches

• Chiesa di Santa Maria della Neve in Pisogne
• Chiesa di Sant'Antonio in Breno
• Chiesa di Santa Maria Annunziata in Bienno
• Santuario del Cristo Re in Bienno
• Chiesa di Santa Maria Assunta in Esine
• Monastero di San Salvatore in Capo di Ponte
• Oratorio dei Disciplini in Montecchio
• Pieve di San Siro in Cemmo
• Santuario della Via Crucis in Cerveno (Sacri Monti)

Winter sports

• Winter sports Centers at Ponte di Legno, Borno, Montecampione, Aprica and Val Palot

Photo gallery

• 
  Concarena
• 
  Valle Adamé
• 
  Pizzo Badile Camuno
• 
  Valle Camonica from Breno to north
• 
  Valle Camonica from Braone to south
• 
  Valle Camonica from Gorzone
• 
  Petroglyph from Foppe of Nadro
• 
  Running Priest in Capo di Ponte

See also

• Camunni
• Rock Drawings in Valcamonica
• Val Camonica witch trials

External links

• Itinera in Valcamonica (EN)
• Italian World Heritage Sites
• National museum and archaeological park with Roman theatre and amphitheatre
• Valcamonica Rock Art, records and pictures
• EuroPreArt, European Prehistoric Art database, 50 Valcamonica rock art records