Grotta del Miracolo

Sa Rutta ‘e Su Meraculu


Useful Information

Location: 08040 Baunei Province of Nuoro.
Take a boat from Arbatax or Santa Maria Navarrese to the Cala Sisine, 1 hour walk from the beach, trail marked.
Book a guided tour with Vincenzo Incollu, jeep tour, 1 hour walk from the end of the road, trail marked.
(40.1723291792971, 9.607358384440886)
Open: All year daily 8-17.
[2021]
Fee: .
[2021]
Classification: SpeleologyKarst cave
Light: LightIncandescent Electric Light System bring torch
Dimension: L=200 m, T=17 °C, A=300 m asl.
Guided tours: D=1 h.
Photography: allowed
Accessibility: no
Bibliography:  
Address: Grotta del Miracolo, 08040 Baunei NU, Tel: +39-0782-610823.
Visite Guidate Grotta Su Meraculu, Vincenzo Incollu, 08040 Baunei, Province of Nuoro, Tel: +39-339-526-8954. E-mail:
Turismo di Baunei e Santa Maria Navarrese, Via San Nicolò, 2, 08040 Baunei, Tel: +39-349-546-2583. E-mail:
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

2001 cave opened to the public.

Description

Grotta del Miracolo (Miracle Cave), in Sardinian Sa Rutta ‘e Su Meraculu, is a sort of show cave. There is no road to the cave, to reach it you have to take a boat from Arbatax or Santa Maria Navarrese to the Cala Sisine, a popular beach at the east coast, and then walk an hour to the cave. There is also a dirt road from the Golgo plateau along the bed of the Sisine Codula up to the Planu 'e Murta clearing. Unfortunately it's also an hour walk to the cave from the end of the road.

The cave itself was developed with iron staircases, trails and electric light. However, long sections of the trail are the natural floor of the cave and there are few lamps. As a result the cave is in some kind of semi-wild state. It is not difficult to visit, actually the trail to the cave is worse. But we recommend additional lamps and good walking shoes.

The cave is entered through a narrow passage, which is covered by cave coral, after 30 m a small chamber is reached, which contains a spring. It forms shallow rimstone pools with many calcite crystals. The water was used by the herdsmen of the Supramonte of Baunei for themselves and for their sheep. According to local legend the shepherds were able to find the spring and return to the entrance without light. Then the huge main chamber or main passage follows, which is 100 m long, between 4 m and 6 m high, and 7 m wide. The final chamber is called Treasure Hall and is famous for pinkish shawls along the ceiling. The cave has numerous helictites all over, growing between the stalactites.