We decided to go visit the Grotte di Frasassi ("Between Rocks Caves") earlier this week while the others were at school, and it was quite the adventure! The caves are roughly an hour and a half away; there is a parking lot with remarkably similar schlock to what you'd find in the US (temporary booths with "Made in China Genuine Souvenirs" and healing crystals and that sort of thing) along with the ticket booths. Having purchased your ticket, you boarded the shuttle bus for the cave entrance, which is just off a state road.
The caves were discovered in the early 1970s by a group of four spelunkers ranging in age from 16-20. Because of the local geology, they suspected the presence of caverns in the area, so they were digging around at the surface to see what they could find. A soccer-ball-sized hole opened up, so they dug a bit more. I think they found a sort of mini cavern, which they entered, and then created/found an additional opening into darkness. Doing the sensible thing, they dropped a rock. And counted...one...two...three...four...FIVE seconds before the rock hit the ground below. Holy cavern! They knew they had found something special, but they had no idea how amazing it would turn out to be.
The main part of the cavern is 220 meters high, and the entire cathedral of Milan would fit inside it. There are stalagmites 16 meters high: as tall as a 5-story building!
We have visited several of the large caves in Virginia and Kentucky, so there were certainly some familiar sights (the smooth stalagmites and stalagtites), but they had some really curious formations, as well: stalagmites that were more like acanthus-leaf capitals and columns that I don't remember having seen before.
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"The Bear" was a landmark in a toroidal chamber
that allowed early explorers of the cave to find their way out! |
We were able to visit five chambers, and there are an additional two chambers that are left unlighted for spelunkers in the "adventure tour." On the way back to the cave entrance, I noticed oak barrels in which wine was aging (couldn't get a good shot because flash wasn't allowed!).
After the exertions of the cave, it was past time for lunch! We got back to the car and climbed to the top of a nearby hill to Pierosara...an outcropping between two valleys with a gorgeous view! Unfortunately, it was raining after lunch when I was ready to take photos, so imagination will be required.
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The local breads were quite different...small pieces
that were almost cracker-y on the outside, soft inside. |
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| "Frittata" (omelet) with truffles |
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| "Tagliere" ("cutting board")...an appetizer of local meats |
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| Pasta with yellow squash, ricotta, saffron, and speck (a type of bacon) |
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| Gnocchi with wild boar |
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| Homemade ravioli with truffles |
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| Michael's chocolate cake |
Thoroughly sated, it was time to head back to Todi!
Love,
Alexandra
We decided to go visit the Grotte di Frasassi ("Between Rocks Caves") earlier this week while the others were at school, and it was quite the adventure! The caves are roughly an hour and a half away; there is a parking lot with remarkably similar schlock to what you'd find in the US (temporary booths with "Made in China Genuine Souvenirs" and healing crystals and that sort of thing) along with the ticket booths. Having purchased your ticket, you boarded the shuttle bus for the cave entrance, which is just off a state road.
The caves were discovered in the early 1970s by a group of four spelunkers ranging in age from 16-20. Because of the local geology, they suspected the presence of caverns in the area, so they were digging around at the surface to see what they could find. A soccer-ball-sized hole opened up, so they dug a bit more. I think they found a sort of mini cavern, which they entered, and then created/found an additional opening into darkness. Doing the sensible thing, they dropped a rock. And counted...one...two...three...four...FIVE seconds before the rock hit the ground below. Holy cavern! They knew they had found something special, but they had no idea how amazing it would turn out to be.
The main part of the cavern is 220 meters high, and the entire cathedral of Milan would fit inside it. There are stalagmites 16 meters high: as tall as a 5-story building!
We have visited several of the large caves in Virginia and Kentucky, so there were certainly some familiar sights (the smooth stalagmites and stalagtites), but they had some really curious formations, as well: stalagmites that were more like acanthus-leaf capitals and columns that I don't remember having seen before.
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