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My visit to Grotte di Frasassi was one of the most unique experiences of my life.
I entered a subterranean world of calcareous rock formations dating back 180 million
years.
The temperature inside the caves is a constant 14 degrees Celsius with nearly 100% humidity. Grotte di Frasassi was discovered in 1971 by a group of spelaeologists from Ancona, Italy, and today most of the caves are open for public enjoyment.
It is impossible to describe the beauty of the breathtaking formations. I can only give a simplistic view but taking the virtual tour on the link provided here is my way to share the incredible images I saw at Grotte di
Frasassi.
A
maze of pathways leads the visitor to a strange and beautiful world of
towering calcareous columns and basins of clear still water. The actual
extension of the caves is thirteen kilometres and the higher point of
the cave roof is 240 meters. A pathway open to tourists is slightly more
than one kilometre. The walls, ceilings and floors are literally decorated with scenes of incomparable beauty.
The caves are in complete darkness with minimal artificial lighting. Animal life often referred to as living fossils since they resemble animals which lived thousands of years ago, survive today because of the special climate inside the caves. There is also evidence of prehistoric man including objects from the Stone Age (carved flint-stone), remains of the Bronze Age, ceramics and bones. Along with these objects a cemetery complete with urns and the remains of lake dwellings dating to 1500 B.C. are housed in the Ancona
museum.
The whole area is carefully protected including the use of watertight doors at the entrance to the caves. This isolates the inside of the caves from the outside, preventing abnormal air currents which may carry spores or smoke causing changes in the delicate balance of this subterranean climate. Even the minimal electric lighting can alter the crystal formations causing the algae to grow too fast so light source for the visitor is reduced to a minimum. This allows for mass tourism while limiting damage to the delicate and beautiful eco-system.
Grotte di Frasassi is a place all visitors to Italy should experience!
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