Grotte di Montevicoli

Useful Information

Location:	Via delle Grotte, 72013 Ceglie Messapica BR. 2 km from Ceglie Messapica along SP25 (40.6399198, 17.5020335)
Open:	Only after appointment. [2025]
Fee:
Classification:	Karst Cave
Light:	Incandescent
Dimension:	L=50 m, T=16 °C, A=293 m asl.
Guided tours:	L=150 m. V=28.000/a []
Photography:
Accessibility:	yes
Bibliography:
Address:	Comune di Ceglie Messapica, Via delle Grotte, 72013 Ceglie Messapica BR, Tel: +39-831-376123. 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

1956	discovered during the restoration of a dry stone wall.
1962	opened to the public.
1996	closed to the public.
30-DEC-2014	municipality purchases the land with the cave and begins renovation.
19-DEC-2015	cave reopened.

Description

Although the Grotte di Montevicoli is only 50 m long, it is famous for abundant and extraordinary speleothems. It is also known for paleolithic remains. And it is a well developed show cave which is closed most of the time. There is a phone number but rarely someone answers the call. You should speak Italian too. Not to speak of the Smile Pluralis Absurditatis in the name. Overall, we had to list it as a show cave, but we were tempted to mark it as a closed cave,because you have no reliable chance to see it.

Human bones were found in the nearby caves Grotta dell'Abate Nicola (Cave of Abbot Nicolas) and the Grotta di San Pietro (Cave of St. Peter). They were dated 30,000 years old from the Middle Paleolithic Era. The Grotta dell'Abate Nicola is entered through a 30 m long dromos, an artificial tunnel which is typical for Stone Age burial sites. Grotta S. Michele (Cave of St. Michael) contains famous frescoes.

This whole city seems to be a little weird, because it gave itself the name Citta delle Grotte (City of Cave).