Frasassi Caves

The Frasassi Caves (in Italian Grotte di Frasassi) is a karst cave system near the municipality of Genga in the Marche region of Italy.

Understand

The Frasassi Caves are open to public and they are considered among the most famous show caves in Italy. Although the total length of its corridors is around 30 km, the touristic course that is open to all (including toddlers and elderly people) amounts to over 1.5 km of corridors and rooms. Guided tours take approximately 1.5 hours.

The Frasassi Caves include the magnificent Grotta Grande del Vento, which is so big that the Milan Cathedral would fit inside it easily.

Entrance is possible on all days except: from 4-25 December and from 10-30 January.

Because only a small part of the cave system is included in the leisurely tourist walks there are also routes for the more adventurous visitors that are graded by difficulty: percorso azzurro (the blue trail) and percorso rosso (the red trail). You are supposed to be reasonably fit and prepared to get a little wet and have to crawl and squeeze through narrow openings.

History

The caves were discovered by a group of speleologists from Ancona in 1971.

Flora and fauna

The caves are home to pipistrelle bats and cave salamanders.

Climate

Inside the cave it is a constant 14 °C.

Get in

There are three car parks for the caves: a small one by the entrance and two larger ones a one and two minute drive away. The last of these is where most tickets are sold and most coach tours and cars park. Shuttle buses operate from these two car parks to the cave entrance.

You must have a tour to enter the cave: all tickets come with a tour.

Fees

Both English and Italian basic guided cave tours are available. The cost as of 2018 is €18 per adult for a 1.5 hr tour. This includes a shuttle bus to and from the caves. Speleological tours cost up to €50.

Tickets need to be bought at least half an hour in advance of the stated start time and visitors must be at bus stop 10 minutes before.

Audio guides are available for free through an app but you must have your own headphones.

Sleep