Sea Caves of the Gargano

Useful Information

Location:	Vieste Harbour, Il Gargano.
Open:	n/a
Fee:	n/a
Classification:	Karst Cave
Light:	n/a
Dimension:
Guided tours:
Photography:
Accessibility:
Bibliography:
Address:	Ente Parco Nazionale del Gargano (National Park of the Gargano), Via S. Antonio Abate, 121, 71037 - Monte Sant'Angelo (Fg), Tel: +39-0884-568929, 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

1954	Francesco Sante and Michele Trimigno, two fishermen, discovered the Grotte dei Contrabbandieri.
1991	the National Park of the Gargano was founded.

Description

Numerous caves are known on the Gragano peninsula, 128 sea caves are known along the coast. As the caves were formed during the Ice Age, when the sea level was much deeper, many of them now lie well below sea level, showing under water speleothems. The erosion of the Gargano coast cut through many karst cave systems, which are now sea caves. The caves are eroded by the mechanical forces of the waves, the result are sea caves like any other sea cave on earth, except for some remaining stalactites on the ceiling probably.

The caves between Vieste and Mattinata can be visited by a boat trip. Some of those caves are:

Grotta dei Contrabbandieri: smugglers' cave, as legends tells it was the hideout for smuglers.
Grotta Campana piccola
Grotta Calda
Grotta Sfondata
Grotta dei due occhi: the two eyed cave has two entrances.
Grotta dei pomodori: the cave of the tomatoes was named because of red molluscs living on the walls.
Grotta dei marmi
Grotta delle Sirene
Grotta delle due stanze
Grotta dei sogni: cave of dreams.
Grotta Tavolozza
Grotta Campana: 47 m high and round like a bell. It is also called Pantheon of the Gargano.
Grande grotta del serpente
Grotta Smeralda
Grotta Rotonda
Grotta delle finestre