Grotta del Monte Capriolo

Abisso di Monte Capriolo - La Grotta di Roverè Mille - Grotta di Roverè 1000

Useful Information

Location:	Contrada Capraia, 37028 Roveré Veronese VR. North of Verona, east of the Lago di Garda. (45.5920408, 11.0792508)
Open:	Cave: 15-JUN to 08-SEP Sat 15-19, Sun 14-19. Museo Geopaleontologico: 15-MAY to 15-SEP daily 9:30-13, 14:30-18:30. 16-SEP to 14-MAY Sat, Sun, 10-12, 14-16. [2024]
Fee:	Adults EUR 5, Children EUR 3, Military EUR 3. Groups (15+): Adults EUR 3. [2024]
Classification:	Karst Cave. Jurassic limestones.
Light:	Incandescent
Dimension:	L=260 m, VR=50 m, A=1,005 m asl, T=9 °C.
Guided tours:	L=110 m, Max=15. V=3,600/a [2003]
Photography:	allowed
Accessibility:	no
Bibliography:
Address:	Grotta di Monte Capriolo (o Rovere Mille), Contrada Capraia, 37028 Roverè Veronese (VR), Tel: +39-347-0404211. grottamontecapriolo@googlegroups.com Museo Geopaleontologico, Via Covolo 1, 37030 Velo Veronese, Tel: +39-045-6516005, Fax: +39-045-6516005. Verona Tourist Office - IAT Verona, Via Leoncino, 61, 37121 Verona, Tel +39-045-8068680. info@visitverona.it
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

1957	discovered and first explored by speleologists from the gruppo grotte Falchi (Falchi Cave Exploration Group) from Verona.
1966-1969	show cave planned by Centro ricerche idrologiche speleologiche Verona (CRISV) and Prof. Perin.
1970	begin of development as a show cave by the GAM, CRISV and Proloco di Rovere.
1972	opened to the public.
1989	Speleological Commission of Verona takes over the management of the show cave.
1990	Lessinia Natural Park established by the Veneto Region.
1995	new passages discovered by speleologists from G.S.C.A.I. Verona.
2016	Gruppo Attività Speleologica Veronese (GASV) discovers new passages and a large chamber 25 m long, 15 m wide and 25 m high.
2022	the Unione Speleologica Veronese (USV) discovers 30 m of cave passage.

Description

Grotta del Monte Capriolo or Grotta di Monte Capriolo (Cave of "Monte Capriolo") is a small cave with nice speleothems. It is also known as Grotta di Roverè 1000, after the nearby hamlet Roverè Mille, or Grotta del Sogno (Dream Cave). The Grotta di Monte Capriolo is the only tourist cave open to visitors in the Verona area. It is managed by the Speleological Commission of Verona and the Municipality of Roverè Veronese. The cave is open during the summer on weekends and all year by reservation.

The cave is located in the Monti Lessini, a mountain range of the Southern Limestone Alps. These Jurassic limestones cover the crystalline basement, and were moved to the north by plate tectonics. The collision of European and African Plate resulted in the formation of the Alps, the limestones were lifted, bended and slanted. Cracks formed which gave way to meteoric water and the limestone was karstified.

The show cave is actually the connection of two caves, which were connected by a short artificial tunnel. The first is a collapse doline which is used as the cave entrance. The second is mostly horizontal and famous for its great speleothems. There are not only stalactites, stalagmites, and columns, but also bulbous calcite, flows, curtains, and even helictites.

The Museo Geopaleontologico in Velo Veronese, not far from the cave is complimentary to the cave visit. It explains the geologic structure of the area, the karstification and shows many interesting fossils.