Cavallone Cave: the secret heart of Majella

In the Taranta Valley, in the heart of the Majella National Park, lies an underground wonder that has fascinated scholars for over a century with its grandeur and incredible variety of shapes. This is the Cavallone Cave, located at an altitude of about 1,300 meters, and one of the most spectacular natural caves in Italy.

Getting there is an adventure in itself. You start from the village of Lama dei Peligni, or Taranta Peligna, and take a cable car to the entrance of the cave. This short journey offers breathtaking views of the Majella mountains. The part of the cave that can be visited is about one and a half kilometers long, although the cave actually extends for over three kilometers.

Various types of environments alternate. Large rooms and corridors alternate with narrower tunnels, and as you look around, you will notice stalactites and stalagmites of extraordinary beauty. Some of these structures have such unusual shapes that they have been given names such as the ‘petrified forest’ or the ‘fairy cemetery’.

This place was also the inspiration for one of Italy's greatest poets. Gabriele D'Annunzio chose this cave as the setting for his famous theatrical tragedy. It is also known as the ‘Cave of Iorio's Daughter’. This makes the cave even more fascinating, as it combines nature, history, and culture. The climate is perfect. It is always around 10 degrees Celsius, whatever the season. This makes the atmosphere and experience refreshing in summer, but also a charming refuge in winter. It is a paradise for speleologists, who conduct research on the karst and geology of the Majella inside the cave.

Visiting the Cavallone Cave means discovering a hidden world, leaving travelers with the feeling of having explored a secret hidden in the heart of the Abruzzo mountains.

Photo credits: Mariangelamartellotta - Licensed by CC 4.0