Castelcivita Caves

Grotte di Castelcivita
(Castelcivita Caves)
Grotte di Spartaco

Entrance to the caves
Map showing the location of Grotte di Castelcivita (Castelcivita Caves)

Location of the caves in Italy

Location Italy Castelcivita
(SA, Campania, Italy)
Coordinates 40°29′44″N 15°12′32″E / 40.49556°N 15.20889°E / 40.49556; 15.20889Coordinates: 40°29′44″N 15°12′32″E / 40.49556°N 15.20889°E / 40.49556; 15.20889
Length 5,000 m
Elevation 94 m
Geology Karst cave
Entrances 1
Access Public
Show cave length 1,700 m
Website Official website

The Castelcivita Caves[1] (Italian: Grotte di Castelcivita) are a remarkable karst cave system located in the municipality of Castelcivita (and partially in Controne), in the province of Salerno, Campania. They are some remarkable show caves of Italy and the most ones, along with Pertosa, of their province.

Overview

Cave entrance

Their second name, Spartacus Caves; is due to a popular fact[2] (not verified) telling that the Roman gladiator used the caves as a shelter during its march from Brundisium[3] to the final battle of Silarus river, this one close to the town of Castelcivita.

Situated in an area near Calore lucano river and close to the western side of the Alburni mountains, they are 3 km far from Castelcivita and 3 from Controne, and close to a zone named Ponte Paestum (i.e. Paestum Bridge). The length of touristic area is of 1.7 km and the total extension of the voids is of 3 km.

Notes and references

  1. ↑ (Italian) Info and description on the official site
  2. ↑ (Italian) The legend on agendaonline.it
  3. ↑ The modern Brindisi

See also

Media related to Castelcivita Caves at Wikimedia Commons

This article is issued from Wikipedia - version of the 10/21/2016. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike but additional terms may apply for the media files.