Pertosa Caves, Pertosa
Pertosa-Auletta is a karst cave located in the municipality of Pertosa in the Salerno province, Campania. This geological formation is unique to the Italian region. The first excavations were carried out from 1897 to 1898. Currently, Pertosa-Auletta cave is one of the most fascinating natural sights of Italy.
What to see in the Pertosa-Auletta cave
According to the research of scientists, in the Stone Age, Pertosa-Auletta was populated and used as a place of worship by the Romans and Greeks. In the era of Christianity, it was named in honour of the Archangel Michael.
The caves stretch for three thousand meters along the mountain range of Monti Alburni (The Alburni). Along the way, the walls of the cave are decorated with stalactites and stalagmites. The underground waterfall deserves special attention. You can take a boat tour, which is a fascinating and unusual trip to the underworld of Italy.
Interesting fact
In the Pertosa-Auletta caves, Dario Argento shot the scenes of the famous Italian horror film “Phantom of the Opera” (1998).
How to get there
The cave is located in the mountain range of Monti Alburni, near the city of Pertosa. GPS coordinates:
- Grotte di Pertosa-Auletta, Pertosa: latitude: 40.538576 | longitude: 15.453181.
- A3 Polla Highway Exit: latitude: 39.878927 | longitude: 15.989489.
Cost: there are several routes (partly walking and partly in a boat). Depending on the length of the route, its complexity and various discounts, a single ticket costs from 10 to 35 euros.
