Castellana Caves

A landscape shaped below ground

Near the town of Castellana Grotte in Puglia, southern Italy, a narrow entrance opens into a much larger underground landscape. The Castellana Caves are a karst system in limestone, formed as water moved through fractures in the rock and gradually enlarged passages and chambers. The official cave site places the complex in the south-eastern Murge and describes an underground route extending for more than three kilometres.

The limestone plateau developed from marine sediments during the Upper Cretaceous, around 90 million years ago, according to the site’s geological account. That timescale is difficult to grasp during a visit, but the cave walls make the process visible in layers, hollows and mineral deposits. Stalactites, stalagmites, columns and curtains are not sculpted decorations; they are formations created slowly by water and mineral precipitation.

The natural entrance is the Grave, a large open chasm and the only cave in the system connected naturally with the surface. The official itinerary describes it as about 100 metres long, 50 metres wide and 60 metres deep. Daylight entering from above makes this first chamber feel different from the enclosed passages that follow. It is also a reminder that the underground route begins in a real geological opening, not a purpose-built tunnel.

Franco Anelli and the opening of the caves

The modern history of the tourist site begins on 23 January 1938, when speleologist Franco Anelli descended into the Grave and began the exploration that revealed the underground complex to a wider public. The cave’s official history records his role and subsequent surveys. It is better to describe this as the beginning of documented exploration than to suggest that the chasm had been unknown to everyone beforehand; local oral traditions and earlier references form part of the site’s story.

Anelli continued exploring and documenting the system, and other speleologists helped extend knowledge of its passages. The name of the Franco Anelli Speleological Museum, near the caves, recognizes his work and introduces visitors to cave science and exploration. The museum opened on the anniversary of the discovery in 2000, according to the official press material. A visit to the museum can add context before or after the guided walk, subject to its current opening arrangements.

The caves became a managed visitor attraction with marked routes and guided groups, allowing people to see selected areas without entering every passage. This distinction is important: the accessible tourist route is only part of a larger karst system, and some spaces remain outside ordinary visits. Cave conservation depends on limiting contact, controlling group movement and protecting formations that can be damaged by touch, litter or changes in the underground environment.

Choosing a route and checking access

The operator offers two principal guided itineraries. The complete route covers about three kilometres and takes roughly 100 minutes; it continues to the White Cave, the best-known final chamber. The partial route is about one kilometre and lasts around 50 minutes. Both begin at the Grave, but the longer tour involves more walking and time underground. Select the route according to your comfort, mobility and available schedule rather than assuming the full visit is suitable for everyone.

The White Cave is valued for the brightness of its pale mineral surfaces and is reached only on the complete itinerary. The route passes through corridors and chambers of changing size and shape, with formations that guides identify by both geology and local names. The experience is not a free-roaming cave hike: visitors follow a set path with a guide, and the group’s pace and permitted stops are part of the conservation and safety plan.

Opening hours vary by season, and the official site directs visitors to a calendar for the date they plan to attend. The caves are described as open year-round, but individual departure times change. At the time of research, the complete adult ticket was listed at €25 at the ticket office and the partial visit at €22; online prices and family or reduced rates may differ. Check the current official price list before purchase because rates and conditions can change.

The operator recommends buying online in advance to secure a place on the preferred tour; its information page says same-day online sales may not be available. Large groups require advance arrangements. Arrive at the entrance at the time specified on the ticket, not merely at the site’s general opening time. If a special performance or evening experience is advertised, check its separate calendar and ticket terms rather than assuming it is included in a standard cave tour.

Getting there and visiting with care

The caves are at Piazzale Anelli in Castellana Grotte, in the Metropolitan City of Bari. The official site describes the attraction as about 1.5 kilometres from the town centre and lists paid parking areas nearby. A combined train-and-bus service called Link Caves connects Bari Centrale with the attraction, according to the operator; confirm its current departures and booking process with the transport provider before relying on it.

Accessibility needs should be discussed with the site in advance. The caves offer dedicated visits for people with different disabilities, including a guided and assisted route of about 400 metres from the Grave to the Cave of the Source, using lifts. These visits require booking and an assessment of the group’s needs and the cave environment. They are not the same itinerary as the full three-kilometre tour, so contact the operator to plan a suitable experience.

The cave’s rules are practical as well as protective. Strollers are not permitted on the route; the operator says baby carriers may be requested at the ticket office. Small pets are allowed only if carried or held, while smoking and touching formations are prohibited. Photography and video are permitted only during scheduled stops with non-professional equipment. The complete itinerary is not recommended by the operator for pregnant visitors or people over 70; visitors with heart conditions are also advised against the tour.

Set aside time to reach the meeting point, use the restroom beforehand and wear shoes with a secure, non-slip sole. Keep close to the guide and group, do not leave litter and avoid blocking the path to take pictures. The caves are an accessible introduction to the geological history of Puglia, but they remain a fragile natural environment. A good visit combines wonder with restraint: observe the formations, listen to the guide and leave the underground landscape unchanged for the next group.