Tourist Tour

The journey takes about an hour. The first room that can be seen is the Sala del Guano which until the 1950s-1960s was an ideal refuge for bats.

Going forward, the first stalactites appear, the stalagmites, the draperies that, thanks to the peculiarity of the carbonate rock combined with rainwater, have developed in enormous quantities throughout the cavity.

The Sala del Castello appears with its group of stalagmites reminiscent of an ancient medieval castle located on top of a hill. Then the route branches off into two cavities: we leave the main passage but crossing the adjacent siphon, we return to it later.

The “Crocodile Room”, at the top the “turtle”, the “candelabra”, draperies … a new crossroads.

The guide tells of a story that occurred in 1889. A sinkhole.
Here is one of the many that the water has dug with its eddies, forming underlying channels.

Some channels project upwards. The main feature of the Castelcivita Caves is the spectacle of the myriad of colors that the rock has taken on over the centuries by the sediments of various minerals transported by water.

 

Other bifurcations:

  • another room on an upper floor that certainly boasts millions of years of seniority compared to the course below: it takes a long time to go forward and visit all the passages;
  • still at the top the resemblance of a king on the throne is denoted, hence the name “Throne Room”.
Grotte di Castelcivita

Observing the walls and the geometry of the cavities, one can guess the journey and the impetuousness of the waters: despite the long time that has elapsed. The trace of waterfalls, whirlpools, pools has remained clearly evident.

We cross another siphon; here you can admire the formation of the lemon (Hall of vegetables), of the onion, of the garlic, the aubergine, the coca cola with a straw. We can get close and touch with our hands, observe the result of the slow and incessant development of concretions: a cubic centimeter of material input took a time ranging from 50 to 100 years.

A glimpse into another passage to a plan. Superiore, also surprisingly interesting, but continuing, here we are in the “Sala Bertarelli”.

Here another branch that will rejoin the walkway, 70 meters ahead. Here we are in front of the “Pagoda”, the most pronounced formation of the caves.

Grotte di Castelcivita

Observing the walls and the geometry of the cavities, one can guess the journey and the impetuousness of the waters: despite the long time that has elapsed. The trace of waterfalls, whirlpools, pools has remained clearly evident.

We cross another siphon; here you can admire the formation of the lemon (Hall of vegetables), of the onion, of the garlic, the aubergine, the coca cola with a straw. We can get close and touch with our hands, observe the result of the slow and incessant development of concretions: a cubic centimeter of material input took a time ranging from 50 to 100 years.

A glimpse into another passage to a plan. Superiore, also surprisingly interesting, but continuing, here we are in the “Sala Bertarelli”.

Here another branch that will rejoin the walkway, 70 meters ahead. Here we are in front of the “Pagoda”, the most pronounced formation of the caves.

All around other formations that recall oriental constructions. Next to the “Pagoda” the “Madonnina with the Child in her arms”; lengthening the gaze an enormous drapery descends from the vault and a column shows the signs of its metamorphosis: overlapping of veils over veils, up to the junction of the stalactite to the stalagmite; it is 8 meters high and seems to support the vault.

Always at the top the “leopard skin” while on the right a stalagmite has almost reached its stalactite but it will take a thousand years for the process to complete.

Behind us “the crib”: “the hut” and around the characters who seem to want to reach it; among them, a well-defined “shepherd” with a cloak and long hair points the way, while a “dog”, seated, turns his gaze to the “crib”.

Each appendix is ​​capable of transmitting a different image. Proceeding, we find the crossed branch 70 meters before. But here we are in the “Hall of the elephants”; it too takes its name from the shape of some congreions that resemble the animal with the trunk.

& nbsp;

At this point the vault of the cave, which is made up of layers of rock and soil, is about 30 meters from the external surface; forwarding this thickness increases; on Lake Terminale this measures 350 meters. Our continuous ups and downs are spread over a constant altitude at about 100 meters above sea level.

Grotte di Castelcivita

All around other formations that recall oriental constructions. Next to the “Pagoda” the “Madonnina with the Child in her arms”; lengthening the gaze an enormous drapery descends from the vault and a column shows the signs of its metamorphosis: overlapping of veils over veils, up to the junction of the stalactite to the stalagmite; it is 8 meters high and seems to support the vault.

Always at the top the “leopard skin” while on the right a stalagmite has almost reached its stalactite but it will take a thousand years for the process to complete.

Behind us “the crib”: “the hut” and around the characters who seem to want to reach it; among them, a well-defined “shepherd” with a cloak and long hair points the way, while a “dog”, seated, turns his gaze to the “crib”.

Each appendix is ​​capable of transmitting a different image. Proceeding, we find the crossed branch 70 meters before. But here we are in the “Hall of the elephants”; it too takes its name from the shape of some congreions that resemble the animal with the trunk.

& nbsp;

At this point the vault of the cave, which is made up of layers of rock and soil, is about 30 meters from the external surface; forwarding this thickness increases; on Lake Terminale this measures 350 meters. Our continuous ups and downs are spread over a constant altitude at about 100 meters above sea level.

Grotte di Castelcivita

AMATEUR TOUR

Grotte di Castelcivita

“SPOOKY, SCARY” TOUR

GEOEXPERIENCE

RESERVATION SUGGESTED:

Lunch available at the restaurant

All around other formations that recall oriental constructions. Next to the “Pagoda” the “Madonnina with the Child in her arms”; lengthening the gaze an enormous drapery descends from the vault and a column shows the signs of its metamorphosis: overlapping of veils over veils, up to the junction of the stalactite to the stalagmite; it is 8 meters high and seems to support the vault.

Always at the top the “leopard skin” while on the right a stalagmite has almost reached its stalactite but it will take a thousand years for the process to complete.

Behind us “the crib”: “the hut” and around the characters who seem to want to reach it; among them, a well-defined “shepherd” with a cloak and long hair points the way, while a “dog”, seated, turns his gaze to the “crib”.

Each appendix is ​​capable of transmitting a different image. Proceeding, we find the crossed branch 70 meters before. But here we are in the “Hall of the elephants”; it too takes its name from the shape of some congreions that resemble the animal with the trunk.

 

At this point the vault of the cave, which is made up of layers of rock and soil, is about 30 meters from the external surface; forwarding this thickness increases; on Lake Terminale this measures 350 meters. Our continuous ups and downs are spread over a constant altitude at about 100 meters above sea level.

Other surprises await our eyes from time to time that from a narrower passage we break into the fairy-tale and multiform space of the cavities: “the Cathedral or Duomo of Milan, Garibaldi on horseback, the Dromedary, the Woodpecker who pierces the tree, the Trulli, Mont Blanc “; but here is one of the most curious and full of congregations: “the Salami Room” whose vault is literally sprinkled with rounded and elongated stalactites just like hanging cured meats.

The “Sala del Deserto” follows. In this cavity there are no stalagmites as the sand soil has absorbed the drops avoiding the accumulation of material.

The “Sala Boegan” ends the touristic section; stands out in its center “the Sword of Damocles” and around us other colorful congreions such as “the eagle’s beak” and, beautifully, “the mother-in-law’s tongue”.