The first trail, just under an hour long, is characterised by a flat surface, rich with calcareous concretions. The guided tour starts in an elliptic gallery which then leads into the «Galleria principale» (Main gallery) until it reaches the «Lago dei cristalli» (Lake of the crystals), a mirror of water filled by underground rivers whereupon a colonnade formed by stalactites and stalagmites is reflected.

You then continue into the «Sala del ciondolo» (Hall of the pendant – in the picture) beautified by polychrome and transparent drapery, and then towards the «Sala del crollo» (Hall of the collapse), which reaches a height of twenty meters, until the «Baratro dei giganti» (The chasm of the giants): a perpendicular well which seems never to end. Setting off times for guided tours through the first itinerary (1 April - 30 September) are: 10, 11 am, and 12, 1, 3, 4, 5 and 6 pm.

The second trail, characterised by the deep descent and an underground river, continues from the «Baratro dei Giganti» (where the first itinerary ends) to descend along some very steep steps, and reach the «Sala delle voci» (Hall of the voices), a gallery where there are special effects of sound refraction creating very spectacular acoustic effects. From here you cross the «Galleria delle valli» (Gallery of the valleys), the «Salone dell'Acheronte» (Acheron’s Hall) up to the «Galleria Intermedia» (Intermediate Gallery), where you encounter a sort of miniature landscape, made throughout the centuries with calcareous concretions, who take the shapes of minuscule fir trees and strange figures. Setting off times for tours through the second itinerary, which has a duration of about 2 hours, (1 April - 30 September) are: 11 am, 3, 4 and 5 pm.

Finally the third itinerary, characterised by enormous wells disappearing underground, is around 3 hours long and includes the whole open area of the Grotte del vento. The «Pozzo dell'infinito» (Well of the Infinite) is among the most striking points in the itinerary, just like the passage on the suspended bridge at over 20 metres of height, from which you can observe a spectacular games of reflected light created by the drops of water which precipitate from a rock into the emptiness of the well. Visits to the third itinerary start at 10 am and 2 pm.
(Photo taken from the website: Grotta del Vento)

When: 1 April-30 September open every day; 1 October -31 March on working days only itinerary nr 1.
Tickets
Trail 1: € 6,50, conc. € 5,00. Trail 2: € 10,50 conc. € 8,50. Trail 3: € 15,00 conc. € 11,50. Concession tickets are for children under 10 years of age 10, the military and spelaeologists (carrying id) and groups of 20 people.
Information: +39 0583 722 024

May.2002

Grotta del vento
E-mail: Grotta del Vento