How about forgetting for a moment of the superficial world and immersed us deeply in a magical and hidden world? This is exactly what I experience during my visit to the fascinating Cuevas de Castellana in Apulia. Among strange stalactites and mysterious shadows, a maze opens, formed by nature over millions of years. But what really hides in these caves?
The descent to the Grutas begins with impressive stone stairs.
Excursion to the underworld: History and discovery
Stairs to infinity, so it seems to me. With every step that takes me deeper underground, the air becomes colder and more humid. With more than 3 kilometers of tunnels, Castilian caves are one of the largest underground karst systems in Italy and attract numerous visitors every year. Its entrance, the huge cavernous chamber of the serious, the largest and also the input cave, was considered the door of hell, from where the souls of the convicted ascendered. With the passing of the centuries he fell into oblivion and served as a garbage dump for the locals.
For centuries, farmers threw waste and corpses in the apparently backless hole, until 1938, when the Espeleologist Franco Anelli and his team ventured to explore the caves. But starting was not easy: the researchers had to cross a mountain of decomposition material before being able to enter the extensive system of caves.
Today, the serious is the impressive entry to a underground fairy tale world. The sun’s rays fall through the natural opening and bathe stalactites and stalagmites with extraordinary light. But with each step in the dark, the atmosphere changes: it becomes cooler, more wet, quieter. At a maximum depth of more than 120 meters, the earth is heated up to a maximum of 16 degrees under the sun of Apulia.
Magic light effects: Sun rays bathe the caves with mystical colors.
A trip over time underground: the Cuevas de Castellana are a natural wonder.
A brave man: Franco Anelli was the first to enter the unknown Cuevas System in 1938.
Time trips in stone: geology and training
Apulia, about 100 million years ago: a original sea covered the area we know today as the Italian Peninsula. In this underwater world, in the depths of the ocean, the history of the Cuevas de Castellana begins. Over millions of years, the remains of marine animals (shells, corals, small skeletons) accumulated at the bottom of the sea. Capa after layer, Altamura limestone was created, the huge base on which the Apulia region would later settle.
But the earth is moving. The tectonic forces raise the earth, Apulia emerges from the floods. And now the water comes into play, not as a destructive flood, but as a gentle but persistent artist. The rainwater, slightly acidified by the carbon dioxide of the air, is filtered through fine cracks and clefts to the limestone.
What happens below is pure chemistry: slowly but inexorably, acidic water dissolves the limestone. An underground kingdom arises, a labyrinth of corridors, rooms and cameras. The size is fascinating. While we walk through the narrow passages of the cave with our experienced gebeco guide, Claudio, we discover the details: the delicate stalactites that hang from the ceiling such as stone curtains and the huge stalagmites that extend towards them from the ground. I am surprised how nature has shaped this piece of land. How long is such a creation? A few millimeters in a hundred years. It is a silent growth as a whisper in the history of the earth.
The Castilian caves are a geological phenomenon with a color game in which nature is the best artist: minerals dissolved in water, such as calcite and hydroxyapatite. Iron oxide gives the walls and formations of the cave a fascinating spectrum of colors, ranging from pure target to soft reds and deep black.
An ancient garbage dump, today a wonder of the world: the incredible history of a discovery.
Underground poetry
Italians are considered teachers of language with a special sense of poetry and beauty in details. I can clearly feel this aesthetic in the caves while Claudio describes what we discover together. Upon entering these caves and understanding their geological origins, not only rock formations are discovered, but a kind of underground narrative orchestrated by nature itself. Each training seems to have its own personality, its own little story to tell.
- The White cave It is one of the most outstanding points of the Castellana caves.
His formations shine in the light as a newly fallen snow. It is considered one of the most beautiful caves in the world. - Mining Italian monuments: A smile is guaranteed when discovering the formations reminiscent of the “Milan’s Cathedral” and the “Torre inclined of Pisa” . The precision with which the water has shaped the stone until these famous silhouettes is surprising.
- With a little imagination you can recognize the famous Roman Loba In another training. These random similarities are typical of the karst caves and stimulate the imagination.
- He Desert runner It is a labyrinth of stalactites. This part of the cave is an impressive example of the density and diversity of stalactite formations. The stalactites and stalagmites are so close to each other that they create the impression of a petrified forest. A special detail is the “Cave Spaghetti”, fine translucent Aragon threads hang from the ceiling.
Drop by drop: the silent growth of stalactites takes centuries.
Tips for your visit
- Website: Castellana di Castellana (Santa Insan): Construction works, buildings
- Clothes : The temperature in the caves is a maximum of 16-18 ° C, so it is recommended to wear a light jacket. The halls can be slippery, so it is essential to wear resistant footwear.
- Travel selection :
Short route (1 km, approx. 50 minutes): suitable for those who want to obtain a rapid overview.
Long route (3 km, approx. 2 hours): leads to the spectacular Grotta Bianca, for those who wish to live the complete experience.
Languages : Guided visits are offered in Italian, English and German (the latter from April to September at 11.00 and 16.00). - 100% accessible caves : Even people with disabilities can enjoy Castilian caves. Special paths, an elevator to the main grotto and technical aids guarantee a safe and emotional experience for all visitors. (Guided visits for people with difficulties of walking are only available by appointment, so we beg you to communicate it in advance: Telephone: +39 080.499.82.21 or by email: (email protected) )
Disclosure : My research trip to Apulia had the support of Gebeco Gesellschaft Für Internationale Begegnung unde Cooperation MBH & Co. Kg – thank you so much! The content of this article, of course, is not affected and reflects my own opinion. I did not receive any remuneration for this article.
This article was reproduced with authorization from the author.
Photos gentilly ceded by the author.
The author is a journalist of travel, blogger and writer. He has been among the 5 best travel blogs in German for more than 15 years and has won several awards. This German lover of pleasure has earned a large number of followers and informs about their select trips, which combine luxury, culinary delicacies, cruises, urban escapes, luxury, extraordinary travel experiences, well -being, relaxation and even convertible road trips.
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