The Weird Wonders of Grotte di Castellana
Grotte di Castellana in Puglia is one of Italy’s subterranean limestone caves with pretty drapings of stalagmites and a rather extraordinary history.
Grotte di Castellana in Puglia is one of a long list of tourist attractions within a relatively small area, and it is hard to compete with a necklace of white towns that include Alberobello, Martina Franca and Ostuni. A visit to Grotte de Castellana in Puglia ia like a journey to the centre of the earth. And the constant temperature all year round makes it nice and cool in the hot summer months, and a welcome shelter for rain and wind in winter.
Grotte di Castellana is one of Italy’s seemingly endless, subterranean, limestone caves with pretty drapings of stalagmites – columns rising up from the cave floor – and stalactites hanging from the cave ceiling like icicles on the eaves in a Scandinavian winter. According to Touring Club Italiano, Grotte di Castallana ranges among the 10 most beautiful caves in Italy particularly because of the sparkling alabaster whiteness of the Grotta Bianca, the final cave in guided tours.
In addition there are two details that strike me as remarkable about Grotte di Castellana. One is the history of how the caves were discovered. And the other is the shape of one particular but not very big stalactite.
The Discovery of Grotte di Castellana
Until 1938 the caves 2 km outside the town of Castellana in Puglia were shrouded in mystery and superstition. Local farmers were aware of a stinking hole in the earth that swallowed quite a few animals and it was believed the hole led straight to hell.
In fact, the malodorous smell was gasses from the rotting cadavers of animals that had not survived a free fall of 60 metres from the surface of the earth to the bottom of the principal cave appropriately named ‘la grave’.
Just before the Second World War a courageous geologist named Franco Anelli ventured down the hole. He discovered a complex system of enormous grottos connected by underground passages. A slippery, spooky and chilly place that has had more than 14 million visitors including the film crew of Alien 2, since it first opened to the public some 60 years ago.
Perpendicular Drips
All visitors have seen – but perhaps not noticed – a small stalactite that seems to grow perpendicular on a vertical dripstone. I have heard geologists discuss the phenomenon and develop theories about a draft and physical possibility of such a formation. I think they reached the conclusion that the horizontal stalactite had to be a fig of the imagination.
So now I have to go back and do another 50 minute guided tour to confirm the sight – unless some of you have seen the same weird wonder?
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