Overview
The Frasassi Caves (Italian: Grotte di Frasassi) are a 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.
The Frasassi 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 Vento, or "Great Cave of the Wind", discovered in 1971, with approximately 13 kilometres (8.1 mi) of passageways.
- Abisso Ancona, or "Ancona Abyss", a huge space around 180 x 120 meters wide and near 200m tall.
- 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.
Details
Visit Type: Vistor Centre
Co-ordinates: 43.400460, 12.961490
Telephone: +39 0732 90090
Email: grotte@frasassi.com
Web: https://www.frasassi.com/Home.aspx?L=EN
Map
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.
Nearby Locations
Location | Distance | Direction |
---|---|---|
Temple of Valadier | 2.58 miles | NNW |
Sentinum | 5.64 miles | WNW |
Loretello Castle | 11.70 miles | N |
Rocca di Mondavio | 19.05 miles | N |
Furlo Pass | 20.62 miles | NW |
Ponte della Concordia, Fossombrone | 21.41 miles | NNW |
Castello della Rancia | 23.03 miles | ESE |
Rocca di Urbisaglia | 25.19 miles | SE |
Castle Brancaleoni of Piobbico | 26.01 miles | WNW |
Grotte del Cantinone | 26.82 miles | ENE |
Ducal Palace, Urbino | 27.66 miles | NW |
Urbino | 27.83 miles | NW |
Church of San Francesco | 30.72 miles | N |
Arch of Trajan | 31.42 miles | ENE |
Fortress Castle of Costance of the Sforzas | 35.18 miles | N |
Castello di Gradara | 38.54 miles | NNW |
Castello di Montecopiolo | 42.50 miles | NW |
Rocca Tiepolo | 44.41 miles | ESE |
Monastery of St. Clare | 44.60 miles | NW |
Cesta Tower | 44.73 miles | NW |