For millions of years, the karst underground of Puglia has undergone continuous and constant changes, giving rise over time to true natural monuments admired by both local and international tourists. In Castellana, the relentless flow of waters from an underground river, now dry, and their inevitable erosive action, have created a series of paths, galleries, and spaces of varying sizes, forming a unique natural spectacle.

The Castellana Caves consist of a series of underground cavities that surprise visitors with the stalactites and stalagmites formed over thousands of years; these create shapes that, with a little imagination and creativity, resemble objects or animals. The route inside the caves is about 3,348 meters long, and the maximum depth from the surface is 122 meters.

The journey through the caves is not particularly difficult. The internal temperature of the caves remains constant, around 16°C, so even on hot summer days, it is advisable to bring a sweatshirt or jacket to avoid getting cold.

The caves take their name from the town of Castellana, which is just one and a half kilometers away. They are located in the province of Bari, on the border with the famous Valle d'Itria. For the residents of Castellana Grotte, it was a well-known fact that something strange and different lay beneath their town. The strange hole in the ground, from which bats would emerge—considered by the locals as souls of the damned—was a clear hint. When the caves were discovered, the first cavern was full of trash. The local population believed that the hole marking the Grave was the entrance to Hell, and they would fight off demons by throwing garbage into it.

It was Vincenzo Longo, a local humanist, who first descended into the Grave, the first of the caves, but his exploration revealed little. Finally, in 1938, local authorities requested the intervention of an expert spelunking guide to clarify the situation and understand the nature of the phenomenon. The man responsible for the exploration of the caves was Franco Anelli. He descended for the first time and realized that the Grave was just the first of many cavities; subsequent descents led to the discovery of new sections and underground cavities, including the White Cave.

The route starts from the largest cave, the Grave, characterized by an opening that communicates with the outside. Its dimensions are astounding, measuring 100 meters in length and 50 meters in width. At the center, you will see a group of stalagmites, which, because of their exceptional size, are called "The Cyclops."

From here, the path takes you through many other caves, each more beautiful than the last, each with an intriguing name derived from the shapes of the stalactites and stalagmites inside. These names were given by the first explorers. Among these, you'll notice Lupa Romana, the Owl, the Madonnina, the Serpent, the Altar, the Precipice, the Desert Corridor, the Upside-Down Column (also known as the Leaning Tower), the Red Corridor, and the Dome.

Finally, you will reach what can be considered a true miracle of nature: the White Cave. It is the last cave you will visit, but definitely the most beautiful. It is a cavity rich in stalactites and stalagmites, some very thin, in shades of milky white and beige, leaving visitors of all ages in awe. Its whiteness is due to the composition of the formations made of pure calcium carbonate (limestone). It is the deepest point of the Castellana Caves, located 72 meters below the surface, with a humidity rate of 95-98%.

The route followed by visitors today is not the same one used by the discoverer and his team; this original path went much deeper and could cause breathing problems. It was decided to install walkways to allow visitors to explore the caves in complete safety.

Various species of animals live in the caves; primarily bats, but don't worry, they are absolutely harmless and do not attack visitors. There are also some organisms with unpronounceable names, typical of cave environments.

Venturing into a cave always evokes strong emotions, awakening ancient memories and connecting us with Mother Earth. Discovering its environments, beauties, and impressive cavities allows one to reconnect with the natural world in its embryonic form.

For the more adventurous, on special occasions, it is even possible to experience the caves as the first explorers did, visiting them as true spelunkers, completely in the dark with a light on their helmet. SpeleoNight is a primal experience, enhancing the sensations by intensifying the senses, especially the auditory contrast between the silence of the earth's depths and the ticking of water droplets.

Similarly, the "Hell in the Cave" show retraces Dante's journey through Hell up to his ascent to Paradise. The key scenes, theatrically performed by actors and acrobats, transport the audience to the time of the Divine Comedy, all amplified by the extraordinary natural scenery of the caves. It is considered the largest underground aerial show in the world.