Photo: Vitor Oliveira from Torres Vedras, PORTUGAL · CC BY-SA 2.0 · editedParque Arqueológico do Vale do Côa
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What's on here
Why go
- The world’s largest open-air collection of Palaeolithic art.
- Rock-art sites extend along the Côa’s final 17 kilometres and into tributary valleys.
- The valley’s Mediterranean climate helped preserve art on exposed rock surfaces.
Opening hours
Today09:00 – 17:30Show all
Don't miss
- Côa MuseumAn introduction to the scale and interpretation of the valley’s art.Côa Museum
- Penascosa night visitVisit the Penascosa rock-art area after dark.PenascosaNight visit
- Fariseu from the waterExplore the rock-art area by electric solar-powered boat or kayak.Fariseu
Know before you go
- Opening hours: Monday 09:00–18:00; Tuesday–Sunday 09:00–17:30.
Tips for your visit
- The museum is the hub for the foundation’s activities.
- The foundation’s programme includes educational workshops and temporary exhibitions.
- For visit enquiries, call +351 279 768 260.
Interesting facts5
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Rock art is mostly carved, incised or picked into vertical schist slabs; painted examples are rare.
Prehistoric Rock Art Sites in the Côa Valley and Siega Verde - Wikipedia -
180 centimetres
Engravings range from 15 to 180 centimetres, with most measuring 40–50 centimetres.
Prehistoric Rock Art Sites in the Côa Valley and Siega Verde - Wikipedia -
Some prehistoric artists gave horses multiple heads and tails to suggest movement.
Parque Arqueológico do Vale do Côa - Wikipedia -
At Piscos rock 1, two horses have intertwined heads.
Sites d'art rupestre préhistorique de la vallée de Côa - Wikipedia -
At Faia, granite shelters preserve painted and engraved aurochs; ochre also highlights a carved figure’s nostrils and mouth.
Prehistoric Rock Art Sites in the Côa Valley and Siega Verde - Wikipedia
Shorts
History
The park was created both to welcome visitors and to support research into the valley’s archaeological finds.
- Gravettian, c. 33,000–25,000 years agoThe valley’s main engraving phase dates to this period.
- NeolithicRock art includes geometric and abstract human and animal designs.
- Chalcolithic and Bronze AgeCarvings mainly show human figures.
- 5th–1st centuries BCCarvings depict people, animals, weapons and symbols.
- 17th–20th centuriesRock art includes religious imagery, inscriptions, dates and modern transport.
Show all
- 1991Figures thought to be Paleolithic were identified at Canada do Inferno.
- November 1994The engravings were publicly announced while a proposed dam threatened to flood them.
- After the 1995 general electionA change of government led to abandonment of the dam project.
- 1996The park opened to protect and show the rock art.
- 1998The rock-art sites became a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
- 2010The World Heritage site was extended to include the Palaeolithic rock art at Siega Verde.
How to get there
- CarThe park’s address is R. do Museu, Vila Nova de Foz Côa. Road approaches include EN102 through Muxagata and EN222 through Castelo Melhor.
Sources: Prehistoric Rock Art Sites in the Côa Valley an… · Home - Côa Parque · Visitas - Côa Parque · A História - Côa Parque · Parque Arqueológico do Vale do Côa - Wikipedia · Sites d'art rupestre préhistorique de la vallée… · Sítios de arte rupestre do Vale do Coa - Wikipe… · checked 11 Oct 2026
- Phone
- +351279768260
Questions and answers
Are guided visits available at Parque Arqueológico do Vale do Côa?
Yes. Guided visits to the park’s rock-art sites are available.
Does the Côa Valley rock art include human figures?
Human figures are rare; examples have been identified near the mouth of the Piscos stream.
Are all the panels above water at Canada do Inferno?
Some panels at Canada do Inferno are submerged by the Pocinho reservoir.
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