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Archaeological site · Tirano, Lombardy
Parco delle Incisioni Rupestri di Grosio
Archaeological park near Grosio, 15 km from Tirano, with the Rupe Magna, a rock bearing more than 5,000 prehistoric carvings, and the ruins of two medieval castles.
Illustrative images. The pictures in this guide are illustrations based on the real place, not photographs, and may differ from it.
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About Parco delle Incisioni Rupestri di Grosio
The Grosio rock carving park sits on a hill called Dosso dei Castelli, between Grosio and Grosotto, about 15 km from Tirano up the Valtellina. The carvings were discovered in 1966 and the park was established in 1978, when Marchioness Margherita Pallavicino Mossi Visconti-Venosta donated the land and the medieval remains.
The focus of the visit is the Rupe Magna, a rock about 84 meters long and 35 meters high, considered the largest rock engraved by humans in the Alps. It holds more than 5,000 figures made between the 4th and 1st millennia BCE: people with raised arms, warriors, animals and symbols. Walkways and panels help locate the figures on the stone.
At the top of the hill are the ruins of two castles. The Castel Vecchio, or San Faustino Castle, dates to the 10th–11th centuries; the Castel Nuovo was built in the 14th century by the Visconti Venosta. Surrounding terraces with dry-stone walls show how the valley slopes were cultivated for centuries.
The park runs guided tours, and the small museum at the entrance explains the carvings.
Before you go
Practical information
Cidade Turismo reviews its information regularly, but something may have changed. Check with the place before planning your trip.
How much time to set aside
About 1.5 to 2 hours.
Best time
It is about 15 km from Tirano, between Grosio and Grosotto, via the SS38. By train, regional services to Bormio stop nearby; by car, there is parking at the park entrance.
How to get there
Take the guided tour, if available: many figures only become apparent when someone points out where to look on the rock.
Tip
Why was the basilica of the Madonna di Tirano built?
Get your questions answered
Frequently asked questions about Parco delle Incisioni Rupestri di Grosio
What is the Rupe Magna?
It is a rock about 84 by 35 meters, near Grosio, with more than 5,000 carved figures dating between the fourth and the first millennia BC.
How far is Grosio from Tirano?
About 15 km, up the Valtellina along the SS38.
What else is there in the Grosio park?
The ruins of two medieval castles, from the 10th to the 14th centuries, dry stone terraces and a small museum at the entrance.