Located in the southeastern Murge region, at the entrance to the Itria Valley, the Castellana Caves are one of Puglia’s natural gems—a truly magical underground world where, for millennia, nature has taken its course, transforming simple rock into a breathtaking sight.
But what are the origins of this wonder, and why do the caves still attract hundreds of tourists today? Let’s find out together!
THE LEGEND
Originally, the history of the caves was shrouded in mystery. In fact, at first, the existence of multiple limestone complexes was unknown; people were only aware of the initial chasm, the Grave.
La Grave was considered a dark and cursed place, the source of many legends.
It is said that at night, through dancing mists, the souls of those who had committed suicide there by throwing themselves into the chasm would rise to the surface. Other stories, however, spoke of a monster holding a young girl captive or claimed that the chasm was nothing less than the main entrance to Hell itself.
Whatever the legend was, one thing was certain: in ancient times, the caves were extremely dangerous and terrifying—the perfect excuse for bandits to rob travelers by threatening them with a leap into the void.
THE HISTORY
The history of the caves officially begins with their discovery and first true exploration, which took place as far back as 1938, when speleologist Franco Anelli descended into the Grave abyss for the first time.
Once inside the Grave, Anelli discovered that there was much more to it than that initial formation, and, realizing the unique potential of the place, he began a systematic exploration that revealed a veritable underground world.
He thus discovered that the Grave is nothing less than a chasm 60 meters deep, 50 meters wide, and 100 meters long, characterized by a fascinating opening that looks up toward the sky—the true beginning of the karst complex.
WHAT TO SEE
The caves are wonderful to visit not only for their history but also for their unique limestone formations.
All the stalactites and stalagmites, formed over millennia by the slow dripping of water, have created an unusual and extraordinary landscape over time.
The main and most famous highlights are as follows:
- The White Cave: known for its distinctive color, it is considered one of the whitest caves in the world thanks to the purity of its calcium carbonate.
- The Precipice: an impressive underground cliff.
- Milan’s Dome and the Tower of Pisa: formations that resemble these famous Italian architectural landmarks.
- The Mother-Wolf: a formation that appears to depict the she-wolf from the myth of Romulus and Remus
Would you like to visit this piece of local history? Contact our Guest Relations Team—we’d be more than happy to provide you with more information and help you plan your visit
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