If you have found a vacation rental in Apulia and you are looking for things to see and do in the area, a quick internet search will immediately list the fantastic Castellana Caves (Grotte di Castellana) are one of the most important attractions in all of Apulia. This system of caves is one of the largest in Italy and stretches underground up to 60m deep for over 3km. The karst rock formations are complex, varied, and dazzling and so otherworldly-looking that you would be forgiven for mistaking it for a place on another planet entirely. Offering a unique and rather extraordinary experience, the caves should be seen with one’s own eyes and are a must for those spending time in the region of Apulia.
The cave system was discovered in 1938 by the speleologist Franco Anelli, a kilometre south of the town of Castellana – now usually referred to as Castellana Grotte, referencing the presence of the caves – after the Provincial Tourist Board of Bari asked the Italian Institute of Speleology of Postojna for a speleologist to inspect some caves in the area. They hoped that some of the local caves could be made into a tourist attraction but all of them had been already explored and were thought to be unsuitable due to their limited extension.
The cave system was discovered in 1938 by the speleologist Franco Anelli, a kilometre south of the town of Castellana – now usually referred to as Castellana Grotte, referencing the presence of the caves – after the Provincial Tourist Board of Bari asked the Italian Institute of Speleology of Postojna for a speleologist to inspect some caves in the area. They hoped that some of the local caves could be made into a tourist attraction but all of them had been already explored and were thought to be unsuitable due to their limited extension.
