13 November 2007

The caves of Balzi Rossi - 1


As a photograph I appreciate this is rather messy, with bits of buildings left and right. However, it's the best way to show you how one gets to visit the limestone caves of Balzi Rossi. The caves (one of which you can clearly see) get their name (Red Rocks) from the colour of the cliffs that surround them.

We've now walked on a few yards from the restaurant you saw yesterday. On the left is a small museum (lower left painted in stripes). First you go into the museum, which was founded in 1898 by Sir Thomas Hanbury. (The Hanbury Gardens just a little further into Italy at La Mortola is one of the true wonders of this part of the world. A future treat, I promise you). Later you visit the caves themselves, and after that, you can see more displays in the second museum building which you see on the lower right.

The museum houses extraordinary displays of a prehistoric Mediterranean. Diggings began in the second half of the 19th century as well as in 1928 and during the post-war period fossils of great importance were discovered, including late Paleolithic human burials, fossils of elephants, hippopotamus, rhinoceros, reindeer, and groundhogs. All have provided precious information on the anthropological development of man (from Homoerectus to the man of Cro-magnon).

Tomorrow I'll take you on the walk you see - up that ramp and across the iron bridge (which, by the way, crosses the main railway line that runs along the Côte d'Azur and into Liguria) - and then we'll visit one of the caves. Do come back tomorrow - and tomorrow and tomorrow - this visit will take us a few days.

13 comments:

  1. This trip to Italy is quite delightful....have enjoyed catching up with it after Tasmania.

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  2. wow, it is fun to see the sights, makes me wish I was there in person!

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  3. Nice vibrant colour repro here, Jilly. Well done.

    Ref yr ? on R u T....you get a more lively photo on the other side AND all the bars and cafe's are there so no-one walks over...(a Twickenham resident will complain, so do not quote me).

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  4. superbe maison et vue, il faut pas avoir le vertige pour vivre en haut ;o)

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  5. wow Jilly your latest photos are really colourful and with lots of water!! I really love them! the mountain is stunning, great colour!

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  6. Well I'm looking forward to this walk. I have never been let down by any of Jilly's walks, no matter how steep they may be! :)

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  7. I so love going on trips with you!!!
    This looks so exciting can't wait!!! I better chuck away the stilettos hey???

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  8. You've explained everything so well that I find the photo not to be messy at all. I look forward to the rest of the trip, too!

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  9. I have never been to Italy. I didn't even know the name of the city where you are. What a shame!

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  10. The photos are enthralling. And the tour has really piqued my interest. You are good tour guide.

    --steve buser
    New Orleans Daily Photo

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  11. Jilly, many thanks for the photos, I have visited Menton many times on holiday, and have spent hours on the beach at Balzi Rosi, but I have not visited the caves, so I am looking forward to seeing them.

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