Caves of Castellana

Ci spostiamo nella Murge sud-orientali, per andare alle Grotte di Castellana, una delle principali attrattive dell’entroterra pugliese. Situate nell’omonimo comune di Castellana Grotte, a pochi chilometri da Alberobello, sono uno dei complessi speleologici di origine carsica più stupefacenti d’Italia.

The entrance to the caves, known as the *Grave*, is a cavern about 60 meters deep, formed around one hundred million years ago during the Cretaceous period. At that time, Puglia was submerged by the sea, and what we see today are the rock layers that were once beneath the surface, shaped over the centuries by rainwater.

The Castellana Caves offer two different routes: a shorter one, about one and a half kilometers long, and a longer one, stretching 3 kilometers. In addition to the vast chasm known as the *Grave*, along the way you can explore many other caves, each with a fantastical name inspired by the legends told about these places.

Walking among stalactites, stalagmites, and limestone formations in the most curious shapes, you’ll pass through the Grotta Nera, the Owl’s Cavern (*Caverna della Civetta*), the Chasm Cavern (*Caverna del Precipizio*), and many more. Don’t miss the Crystal Lake, the Grand Canyon chamber, and the Tower of Pisa Cavern, which features a stalactite shaped like the famous Tuscan monument.