Grotta di Castelcivita

Spartacus Caves

Useful Information

Location:	Calore Valley, Salerno, Campania. A few km west of the centre of Castelcivita town. Autostrada A3 SA-RC uscita Battipaglia, SS 18 uscita Capaccio Scalo, bivio per Roccadaspide, bivio per Castelcivita. (40°29'44.22"N, 15°12'32.92"E)
Open:	16-MAR to SEP daily 10:30, 12, 13:30, 15, 16:30, 18. OCT to 15-MAR daily 10:30, 12, 13:30, 15. [2010]
Fee:	Adults EUR 10, Children (6-12) EUR 8, Children (0-5) free, Disabled free. Groups (20+): Adults EUR 8, School Pupils EUR 6. Cave Trekking tours: per Person EUR 25. [2010]
Classification:	Karst cave. Upper Cretacious
Light:	Incandescent Electric Light System
Dimension:	L=4,800 m, VR=52 m, A=94 m asl..
Guided tours:	L=1,200 m.
Photography:
Accessibility:
Bibliography:
Address:	Grotta di Castelcivita S r l, via A Moro, Piazza Umberto I , 84020 Castelcivita (SA), Tel: +39-082-975524, Fax: +39-082-975524. E-mail: Tourist office Castelcivita: Tel: +39-082-8772397, Fax: +39-082-8772397. Comune di Castelcivita (City of Castelcivita), Tel: +39-082-8975009, Fax: +39-082-8975486.
As far as we know this information was accurate when it was published (see years in brackets), but may have changed since then. Please check rates and details directly with the companies in question if you need more recent info.

History

19th century	first explorations.
1972	archaeologic remains discovered at the entrance.

Description

Grotta di Castelcivita is a horizontal cave with many formations. It is also an important prehistoric site. The huge entrance at the floor of a lovely valley was inhabited during the Upper Paleolithic Era, about 40,000 years ago. The cave is located a few kilometers from the medieval town Castelcivita, which was built high on a hill like a fortification. The cave of Castelcivita has also been called Grotte del Diavolo (Devils Cave), Grotte di Spartaco (Cave of Spartacus) and Grotte Principe di Piemont (Cave of the Prince of Piemont).