Puneet Varma (Editor)

Frasassi Caves

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Depth
  
400 m

Entrances
  
1

Show cave opened
  
1974

Phone
  
+39 0732 90090

Discovery
  
1971

Elevation
  
300 m

Access
  
Public

Province
  
Province of Ancona

Geology
  
Karst

Entrance
  
1

Frasassi Caves

Location
  
Frasassi, Genga (AN, Marche, Italy)

Address
  
Lovalta' gola di frasassi, 60040 Genga AN, Italy

Hours
  
Closed now Thursday10AM–5PMFriday10AM–5PMSaturday10AM–5PMSunday10AM–5PMMonday10AM–5PMTuesday10AM–5PMWednesday10AM–5PM

Similar
  
Monte Conero, San Vittore alle Chiuse, Tempio del Valadier, Furlo Pass, Paper and Watermark Museum

Profiles

Grotte di frasassi frasassi caves


The Frasassi Caves (Italian: Grotte di Frasassi) are a remarkable karst cave system in the municipality of Genga, Italy, in the province of Ancona, Marche. They are among the most famous show caves in Italy.

Contents

Frasassi caves in italy


History

The caves, discovered by a group of Ancona speleologists in 1971, are situated 7 kilometres (4 miles) south of Genga, near the civil parish of San Vittore and the Genga-San Vittore railway station (Rome-Ancona line).

Rich in water, the cave system is particularly well endowed with stalactites and stalagmites.

Near the entrance to the caves are two sanctuary-chapels: one is the 1029 Santuario di Santa Maria infra Saxa (Sanctuary of Holy Mary under the Rock) and the second is an 1828 Neoclassical architecture formal temple, known as Tempietto del Valadier.

Chambers

The Frassisi cave system includes a number of named chambers, including the following:

  • Grotta delle Nottole, or "Cave of the Bats", named for the large colony of bats that lives within.
  • Grotta Grande del Ventro, or "Great Cave of the Wind," discovered in 1971, with approximately 13 kilometres (8.1 mi) of passageways.
  • Sala delle Candeline, or "Room of the Candles," named for its plentiful stalagmites that resemble candles.
  • Sala dell'Infinito, or "Room of the Infinite," a tall chamber with massive speleothem columns supporting the roof.
  • Scientific experiments

    The cave has been used to conduct experiments in chronobiology. Among the cavers that have spent considerable amount of time inside the cave is the Italian sociologist Maurizio Montalbini, who died in 2009.

    Sister caves

    Frasassi is partnered with several sister caves around the world:

  • Grand Roc (Les Eyzies — Aquitaine, France)
  • Wieliczka Salt Mine (Wieliczka — Lesser Poland, Poland)
  • Kartchner Caverns State Park (Benson — Arizona, United States)
  • References

    Frasassi Caves Wikipedia