Castellan's Grottoes

Castellana Grottoes is the most famous speleological complex in Italy. The entrance to the first cave of 60-meter depth, popularly referred to as the "Abyss" (Italian "la grava"), is a hole in the ground.

In ancient times, the local population believed that this is where the gates of hell are located. But in fact, these fears were easy to explain. Sometimes lost animals fell into the abyss from the cliff and died at the bottom. Naturally, there was a sharp unpleasant smell that spread everywhere and felt even at the entrance to the cave. The peasants saw a mystical meaning in this, believing that they felt the stench of the devil.

The cave was first explored by speleologist Franco Anelli, who descended here in 1938. He found huge stalagmites at the bottom of the cave. They were called Cyclops because of their bizarre shape. Then opened the entrance to a long underground corridor, in which grottoes of incredible beauty were discovered. In the grottoes everywhere grow stalactites and stagmites, forming a luxurious landscape with bizarre natural sculptures of crystals.