Description
A Grotta Gigante guided tour begins at the Visitor Centre, where the guide meets the group and leads you to the cave's natural entrance. After the first tunnel, a staircase of 500 steps brings you down to the main chamber, 100 metres below the surface.
The Grande Caverna is famous for its exceptional size, and standing in it makes the scale easy to grasp. The route goes on to its deepest point, 101.10 metres from the entrance, across an expanse of thousands of limestone formations. Along the way the guide explains how karst cavities form and change over time, and how to tell stalactites, stalagmites and columns apart.
You climb back up the Carlo Finocchiaro stairway, a panoramic staircase that looks back into the cave. It has solid handrails and anti-slip material on every step, and it suits all ages. At the top, an artificial tunnel leads to the Belvedere, a balcony 95 metres above the floor of the cavern, and a short cave tunnel takes you out near the parking area.
- Guided visit of Grotta Gigante
- Entry to the Scientific and Speleological Museum
- Free audioguide app and a brochure in several languages
The visit lasts about an hour. Inside, the temperature stays at 11°C, so bring something warm. Photos are not allowed on the stairs going down, and the cave is not suitable for people with walking disabilities, heart problems or respiratory issues.