Page 175 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Italian Riviera

THE RIVIER A DI PONENTE  173

ornamental and artistic objects
have been discovered in the
caves, in particular in the Grotta
del Principe, slightly removed
from the other caves and also
the largest.
Of greatest interest are the
many tombs, which provide
a few tangible snippets of
information about the people
who lived here some 240,000
years ago. They were undoubt­
edly among the most sophisti­
cated of any people living in
Europe at that time.
Overlooking the town of Ventimiglia The most famous of these
tombs, known as the Triple
From Porta Nizza, visitors can consists of nine caves, which Tomb, was discovered in Barma
also climb up west of the old have been explored at various Grande cave in 1892. Today,
city to the ruins of three times since the 19th century. it is on display in the Museo
medieval forts, a reminder of The name of Balzi Rossi Preistorico dei Balzi Rossi,
the battles that were once (meaning “red rocks”) derives founded by the Englishman Sir
fought over Ventimiglia. One of from the reddish colour of the Thomas Hanbury (see p174) in
these, the Castel d’Appio, built precipitous limestone cliffs. 1898. To the side of the tomb are
by the Genoese in the 13th This atmospheric place has two male individuals, a boy on
century, occupies the site not yielded fascinating and a man more than 2 m
only of a Roman military camp evidence of human (6 ft) tall on the right. At
(castrum) but also of an early settlement in this part the centre is a girl of
Ligurian defence post. There are of Liguria, going back around 16 years old.
marvellous views of the as far as the Funerary objects are
Riviera from here. Palaeolithic age. The shown, such as sea
The modern, eastern part area was probably shells, pendants of
of Ventimiglia, complete chosen because of worked bone, deer
with seaside promenades, is the favourable natural Necklace found in the teeth and necklaces
a shopping mecca and is very conditions, including Triple Tomb fashioned out of fish
popular with the French. The the warm climate and vertebrae – items
streets are busy at weekends the proximity of the sea. There that traditionally accompanied
and on Fridays, when people is a walkway connecting some the deceased.
from the surrounding area of the caves, some of which The museum also has on
flood in for the market. are open to the public. display a reproduction of the
Numerous stone and bone only figure engraved in a
T Albintimilium instruments, fossil remains of naturalistic style to be discovered
Corso Genova. Tel 0184 252 320. animals, and various at Balzi Rossi. Found in the Grotta
Open 3–6pm Sat, Sun. del Caviglione, it is the
E Museo Archeologico profile of a shortish,
Gerolamo Rossi stocky horse, 40 cm (16 in)
Via Verdi 41. Tel 0184 351 181. long and 20 cm (8 in)
Open 9am–12:30pm, 3–5pm Mon, high. It is known as the
Tue & Thu, 9am–12:30pm, 9–11pm Fri Przewalskii Horse; a few
9am–12:30pm Sat, 9–11pm Sun. & rare examples of the breed
= ∑ marventimiglia.it survive in Mongolia. Also
on display are stone
instruments, animal
l Balzi Rossi skeletons and small
statues.
Grimaldi di Ventimiglia (Imperia).
Road Map A5.
E Grotte e Museo
This prehistoric site, one of the Preistorico dei Balzi Rossi
most famous in the western Ponte San Ludovico, Via Balzi
Mediterranean, lies about 10 km Rossi 9. Tel 0184 381 13.
(6 miles) west of Ventimiglia, Museum: Open 8:30am–
below the village of Grimaldi 7:30pm Tue–Sun. Grotte:
and just a stone’s throw from Open 8:30am–1 hour before
the Italy–France border. It One of the nine Balzi Rossi caves sunset. 8 hourly. &

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