Italy’s landscape hides a surprising variety of underground worlds, from coastal sea caves to inland karst systems carved over millennia. Whether you’re into easy, tourist-friendly grottos or longer wild passages, these sites offer a mix of history, geology and local flavor across the country.
There are 20 Caves in Italy, ranging from Grotta Azzurra (Blue Grotto) to Grotte di Pertosa-Auletta (Grotte dell’Angelo). For each entry you’ll find below the basic facts organized with Region,Type,Length (m) so you can compare locations and plan visits efficiently — you’ll find the list below.
Which caves are suitable for a short, family-friendly visit?
Look for coastal or show caves like Grotta Azzurra that offer guided tours, short walking routes, and safe access; check opening hours and ticketing in advance, and verify whether steps or boat transfers are required so it fits your group’s mobility and timing.
Can I visit multiple caves in one trip and how should I plan it?
Group caves by region to minimize travel time, factor in local transport and seasonal opening dates, and allow extra time for guided tours and transfers; combining nearby sites with regional attractions makes the most efficient and enjoyable itinerary.
Caves in Italy
| Name | Region | Type | Length (m) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grotte di Frasassi | Marche (Genga, Ancona) | Show cave | 13,000 |
| Grotte di Castellana | Puglia (Castellana Grotte, Bari) | Show cave | 3,000 |
| Grotta Gigante | Friuli-Venezia Giulia (Trieste province) | Show cave | 280 |
| Grotta Azzurra (Blue Grotto) | Campania (Capri, Napoli) | Sea grotto | 60 |
| Grotta dello Smeraldo | Campania (Conca dei Marini, Amalfi Coast) | Sea grotto | 60 |
| Grotte di Pertosa-Auletta (Grotte dell’Angelo) | Campania (Pertosa, Salerno) | Show cave with underground river | 3,000 |
| Grotta di Toirano | Liguria (Toirano, Savona) | Show cave with prehistoric sites | 2,000 |
| Grotta del Vento | Tuscany (Castiglione di Garfagnana, Lucca) | Show cave/wild system | 5,000 |
| Grotta del Cavallone | Abruzzo (Lama dei Peligni, Chieti) | Show cave | 1,400 |
| Grotta di Bossea | Piedmont (Bossea/Frabosa Soprana, Cuneo) | Show cave | 2,100 |
| Grotte di Equi Terme | Tuscany (Equi Terme, Massa) | Show cave | 2,000 |
| Grotta di Stiffe | Abruzzo (Stiffe, L’Aquila) | Show cave with underground stream | 1,000 |
| Grotta di Corchia | Tuscany (Apuan Alps, Massa-Carrara) | Wild cave system | 70,000 |
| Grotta di Monte Cucco | Umbria (Costacciaro, Perugia) | Wild cave system | 30,000 |
| Grotta di Nettuno (Neptune’s Cave) | Sardinia (Alghero, Sassari) | Sea grotto | 4,000 |
| Grotta della Poesia | Apulia (Roca Vecchia, Lecce) | Sea grotto/natural pool | 30 |
| Grotta Palazzese | Puglia (Polignano a Mare, Bari) | Sea grotto with venue | 30 |
| Grotta dello Zinzulusa | Puglia (Castro, Lecce) | Sea grotto and fossil galleries | 150 |
| Grotta del Bue Marino | Sardinia (Cala Gonone/Dorgali, Nuoro) | Sea cave complex | 3,000 |
| Grotta dei Cervi | Apulia (Porto Badisco, Lecce) | Archaeological cave (restricted) | 2,000 |
Images and Descriptions
Grotte di Frasassi
Huge karst complex in Marche near Genga; famous showcave with vast chambers and stalactites. Large guided tour route but extensive caves continue for explorers. About 13 kilometres of passages; popular, easily visited and rich in speleological and geological interest.
Grotte di Castellana
Extensive limestone show cave near Castellana Grotte with the famous ‘Grave’ entrance and huge stalagmite formations. Guided walks reveal caverns and narrow passages; visitor facilities and concerts. Around 3 kilometres of known passages, highly accessible for tourists.
Grotta Gigante
Colossal single-chamber cave on the Carso plateau near Trieste; home to one of the world’s largest tourist caves. Short guided route through a massive hall with impressive stalactites and an easy visitor path and lift access.
Grotta Azzurra (Blue Grotto)
Iconic sea grotto on Capri reached by small boats; sunlight creates electric blue light. Very shallow entrance requires rowboats and calm sea; popular tourist attraction with short guided visits when sea conditions permit.
Grotta dello Smeraldo
Small emerald-lit sea cave on the Amalfi Coast near Conca dei Marini; known for vivid green reflections and easy boat or cliff path access. Short guided visits showcase stalactites, sea tunnels and photogenic waters.
Grotte di Pertosa-Auletta (Grotte dell’Angelo)
Unique show cave in Campania with an underground river and boat section; tours combine walking and short boat rides through decorated halls. Important speleological site with accessible guided routes and occasional cultural events.
Grotta di Toirano
Limestone caves near Toirano in Liguria with prehistoric bones and cave art; spacious halls and narrow fossil passages. Well-presented tourist paths and interpretive displays make it popular with families and anyone interested in archaeology and speleology.
Grotta del Vento
Karst show cave in the Apuan Alps near Lucca noted for varied speleothems, halls and underground waterways. Guided visits include well-lit walkways; important site for cavers and casual visitors with several kilometres of mapped passages.
Grotta del Cavallone
Dramatic cave perched in Abruzzo’s Majella massif, reached by cable car and stairs; famous in Italian literature. Narrow routes open to guided visitors reveal stalactites, chambers and scenic mountain views above the cave entrance.
Grotta di Bossea
Alpine karst cave in Piedmont near Frabosa Soprana, featuring large galleries, ice remnants and archaeological finds. Guided tours run in summer, with some sections reserved for experienced cavers; a classic northern Italian showcave.
Grotte di Equi Terme
Tuscany’s show caves near Equi Terme feature terraces and wide caverns once used in antiquity; visitor paths and nearby thermal spa. Short guided tours highlight stalagmites, fossil levels and historical karst activity.
Grotta di Stiffe
Small but dramatic cave with flowing waterfalls near Stiffe, Abruzzo; winter and spring flows create spectacular cascades through narrow passages. Guided visits follow a safe route along the underground stream and dramatic shafts.
Grotta di Corchia
One of Italy’s longest and most complex systems in the Apuan Alps near Massa-Carrara, with vast galleries, fossil levels and active streams. Mostly wild and explored by cavers; limited tourist access via guided expeditions.
Grotta di Monte Cucco
Large Umbrian karst system near Costacciaro famed for long passages and deep pits; a mecca for experienced cavers and vertical exploration. Some guided and show routes exist, but most of it remains a wild cave network.
Grotta di Nettuno (Neptune’s Cave)
Iconic sea cave near Alghero, Sardinia, entered by boat or steep stairs; huge caverns with stalactites and visitor pathways. Popular tourist show cave with guided visits and dramatic coastal setting.
Grotta della Poesia
Natural sea pool and grotto in Roca Vecchia, Apulia; famed swimming hole set in a partially open cave. Easy public access during summer and a picturesque spot for photos and cliff jumping when allowed.
Grotta Palazzese
Dramatic seaside cave carved into Polignano a Mare’s cliffs housing a restaurant and event space; partially open to the sea with stunning views. Not a long system but highly visited for its unique setting.
Grotta dello Zinzulusa
Prominent Salento sea cave near Castro with fossil galleries, stalactites and a narrow entrance. Boat visits and viewing from cliffs; archaeological finds recorded here make it both scenic and scientifically interesting.
Grotta del Bue Marino
Sea cave complex on Sardinia’s Cala Gonone coast historically used by monk seals; now notable for karst passages and boat-accessible chambers. Guided boat tours visit parts of the system when sea allows.
Grotta dei Cervi
Neolithic painted cave near Porto Badisco, Apulia, famous for rare prehistoric murals and hunter-gatherer imagery. Closed to casual visitors to preserve art; scientific access is tightly restricted for conservation purposes.
