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The Legacy of the Rock Drawings in Valcamonica, Italy

Not yet published by Vanessa Boiser

Country: Italy

The Experience

Upon mention of Italy, one can’t help but to sigh and day dream. Italy is one of the most exciting places to visit in Europe. It’s a cornucopia of modern, contemporary and ancient wonders that make Italy an ideal destination for young and old alike. It is also a haven for those who are in love with all things about food: cooking, preparing, and of course eating! Italy is shoes, bags, pasta, St. Peter’s Basilica, pizza and romance. When you are in Italy, they say that “love is in the air”.

Italy has gone through a lot of changes over the centuries. It played an important part in the ancient medieval period. Until now, Italy is still playing its part in the world’s economy. It is in fact ranked 23rd as of the world’s most developed country. Its heritage and culture are rich and diverse. Greece, Germany and other countries all contributed to its wonderfully balanced mixture of customs and traditions.

One of the most interesting places to visit in Italy is the Rock Drawings in Valcamonica in the region of Lombardi. The small but quaint town of Valcamonica is an ideal place to relax and enjoy the abundance of nature. Upon arriving there, tourists were transformed into another place and time. The mountain side added to the perfect picture of adobe and brick houses, natural mineral fountains on the road side, and grasses and little lilac and yellow flowers.

Photos

Puzzle

When to Go

The Rock Drawings was another sight to behold. There are many carved images on rocks and caves around the world but the Rock Drawings in Valcamonica was so vivid and well drawn one would actually think that they have been made recently and not thousands of years ago. Looking at over 140000 vivid drawings, visitors actually understood the general way of life of its ancient inhabitants. Symbols, figures, excerpts of their dance, war, agriculture, rituals and even magic were the highlights of the drawings. It was like watching a still movie of the past. There were over 2400 rocks with carvings and drawings. It was like s story book that ancient people actually made to have record their existence in history. They actually understood that through these drawings of sun-symbols, warriors, animals such as birds and deer and hunting rituals and practices, they will be remembered long after they were gone. The drawings were actually a testimony of the artistic nature on the pre-historic people of Italy; proof that they were already people of the arts.

If you want a smaller crowd plus the perfect weather, April to June and September to October are the best months to visit Italy. Visitors can actually enjoy the sights without usual tourist crowd. You can go inside museums and other attractions without standing long lines. August however is the worst time to visit the country because it can be very hot and humid.

Odds n' Ends

When in Italy, Rome naturally comes to mind. Visiting the massive Colosseum and St. Peter’s Basilica are the very first places in one’s itinerary. And of course, romantic Venice Italy with its gondola love ride actually holds the hearts of lovers from all over the world. If you are looking for family places to go and you have kids, then the Bomarzo Monster Park is the perfect place. It has statues of different mythological characters. It is located in Northern Lazio. There are also impressive castles all over Italy that you and your kids would love to experience and enjoy.

Italy has also produced world renowned brands like Gucci, Prada and Armani in the fashion industry. You might want to save some money to buy one of these original Italian brands. You might also want to watch motor shows of Ferrari, Lamborghini, Fiat and Bugatti or just simply visit their showrooms to check out their latest models. And do not forget the arts and history of Florence, Italy where the famous statue of Michelangelo’s David can be found. This is also a famous city associated with great artists like Da Vinci, Raphael Donatello, Michelangelo and so many others.

Language Guides

French , Italian are some of the languages spoken in Italy. If you know of a freely available phrase book or podcast for one of the missing languages, let us know!


Discussion

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