Italy is home to an incredible thirty-four thousand caves, of all shapes and sizes and many more that remain undiscovered. These naturally occurring caves in Italy are wonders to behold and make for a fantastic day out while on your holiday. Italy is not only home to wonderful architecture and breathtaking natural scenery, if we delve a little deeper, we will find an incredible underground world, just waiting to be discovered.

Caves and grottos in Italy

Italy is not only a country of art and history, but also a place rich in natural wonders. Its caves, carved out by time and nature, offer a unique opportunity for exploration. In this article we will discover 10 of the most spectacular caves and grottos in Italy, from the limestone formations of the Frasassi caves to the fascinating underground caves of Sardinia.

Büs di Tacoi

Named after the crows that nest nearby, this cave in Italy makes a great excursion from the delightful and historic city of Bergamo. The cave is suitable for people with some experience as much of the cave is dark and unexplored.

Bossea caves

Located in Piedmont, these caves are a fairytale of small and large canyons, crystalline lakes and tunnels that run for 3 kilometres. Within the Bear Room you will find the perfectly preserved skeleton of a now extinct cave bear, a unique and remarkable sight.

The Wind Cave

Set in the picturesque hills of northern Tuscany, the Wind Cave, is the shape of a chimney, allowing big gusts of wind to pass through it. As the name suggests, its windy inside, however panels have been installed to reduce the gusts. Its peculiar shape, along with stalagmites and stalactites, makes a visit here a fascinating experience.

Su Marmuri Cave

Located near the fascinating village of Ulassai in Sardinia, the marble cave spans 850 metres with ceilings that rise over 70 metres high, making it one of the most important caves in the whole of Europe. Visitors can enjoy lunch inside the underground restaurant, but watch out for the bats!

Toirano Caves

This complex system of natural caves in Liguria is a must visit. Complete with footprints of homo sapiens and the skeletal remains of a cave bear, these caves offer an extraordinary day out when in Genoa.

Mangiapane Cave

This is where man and nature collide, as some of this cave system is man made and other parts are natural formations, making it an utterly unique cave experience. There is even a small village within the caves, with shops and cafes to enjoy a refreshment in.

Castellana Cave

With walls that are covered with glittering alabaster, and incredible spiral formations, the White Cave as it is known, makes a great day out while in Puglia, and is considered one of the most exquisite caves in Italy.

Frasassi Caves

With 13 kilometres of route to explore, these grandiose caves are home to magnificent natural formations. Some notable stops are the petrified waterfall, made from white calcite, a huge, crystalized lake, and a smaller lake entirely covered in crystals.

Matera

Italy’s cave city, Matera, is home to the Sassi, two districts of houses, monasteries and churches that have been expertly built into the natural caves, where people still lived up until the 1950’s. Matera is a UNESCO World Heritage site that is not to be missed.

Grotta Gigante

Located near Trieste, this enormous show cave is the largest in Europe. As you explore inside you will discover stalagmites, stalactites, and stats. This grotto in Italy makes a fascinating and thrilling day out for all the family.

Shopping and transport at Fiumicino airport

As you prepare to explore some of the best caves in Italy, remember that your passage through Rome Fiumicino airport can become an opportunity for comfort: with Shop&Fly you can buy everything you need online and collect it on the day of departure. And there's more: take advantage of the 10% discount on your online purchases, not to be combined with other offers, to make your journey even more enjoyable. At Fiumicino airport you will also find excellent transport connections with the train station located near the arrival and departure terminals, offering regular connections to Rome for easy onward travel to the rest of Italy.

Italy provides the opportunity to enjoy many breathtaking natural wonders, and the caves in Italy are no less spectacular. From the enormous caverns of Grotta Gigante filled with spectacular formations; the dwellings built within the caves of Matera, and the remains of ancient bear species within the Bossea caves, the caves and grottos in Italy provide a fascinating experience for all the family to enjoy.

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