If one of our accommodation in Bagni di Contursi moves towards the highway, is built directly in front of a spectacular massif of Alburni on. Because of its unique shape, the mountain chain, the Dolomiti campane (Campania Dolomites) and is just like their northern Italian counterpart rich limestone. Natural erosion and karstification provide a wealth of natural caves, counting about 400, including the most extensive in southern Italy, the Grotta di Civitavecchia and the Angels Grotto (Grotta di Pertosa). And what you can with a fear-free 8-year-olds in a super hot early summer day better organized, with a health badly dressed in a cool 16 degrees to descend the cave? Correct: nothing!

So get in the car and drove the few miles (36), Pertosa. The entrance to the slightly higher on the mountain south of Pertosa (the cave is well signposted) is under water and can be reached only by boat. It takes so cozy place and the first 300 m can be comfortable on the "black river" (fiume negro) gondolas through the cave - the temperature has still pleasantly refreshing compared to the 40 degrees outside and is only towards the end of the guide in "brrr ... overturn cold ". The short tour through the 35 million old cave takes about 1 hour, it is also possible a more detailed tour, which lasts about 2 hours. The currently accessible part of the spectacular limestone formations is approximately 2.5 miles long - by a landslide but by far the largest part of the cave was impassable, when exposed in the future of this part again, expanded the accessible part of the cave for another 8 kms up to Polla village. There is still no way able to localize the origin of the water of the Rio Negro - corresponding experiments with phosphorescent materials led to any results. It is currently working on a unique light installation, which will mark with a changing, color-coordinated game the cave with a very exciting atmosphere. Below in the photo gallery I've tried to capture the blue-lit cave lake once. But I can only remark that all the original nor a hundred times more impressive effect.

Traces of human settlement can be traced back to the Stone Age, the last cave served as a refuge during air raids in World War II or the earthquake of 1980, which caused immense damage in the Vallo Diano but the cave was spared. A scene from Dario Argento's film "Il Fantasma dell'Opera" was shot in the grotto of the Angel. This summer is the Grotta di Pertosa incidentally mentioned Dante's Inferno, which are visible in the photo gallery dug his hands and feet - like the light installation - the stage decoration. Although they are made of plaster, but a real highlight is the cave tour dar. All in all, a beautiful limestone cave and a nice alternative to an extremely hot day in Südkampanien. On the official website of the cave can be found under "Tour Fotografico" even more beautiful photos.

Links:
Official website of the Angel grotto Pertosa
Short description of the grotto in German
The Grotta di Pertosa Wikipedia
Photos and Description in Italian
Salerno and Cilento-Campania Travel Guide (pdf)

Pictures: