Places to see
Grotte di Onferno
These are karst caves, famous for hosting several colonies of bats.
The Grotte di Onferno lie within the Riserva Naturale Orientata di Onferno in the town of Gemmano, in the Valle del Conca. The Onferno caves are karst caves, famous for hosting several colonies of bats. Easy to reach, they are much loved by visitors for how accessible they are and for the underground tour which, despite its simplicity, offers a striking and fascinating experience. Guided visits, in fact, take place in the dark, with only a helmet-mounted light for guidance.
Good to know
- How were they formed? - the Grotte di Onferno were formed by an underground river that carved small chambers, passages and hollows into the gypsum rock.
- How many bats live here? - 8,000 bats live here, of 8 different species.
- Temperature - inside the caves the temperature is around 12°C.
- Numbers - the cave system is 700 m long, 300 m of which can be visited. The elevation gain is 64 m.
- The chambers - the chambers vary in size; the largest and best known is the Stanza Quirina, or Sala Mammelloni, named for the cone-shaped protuberances hanging from the ceiling.
- The guided visit - lasts around 90 minutes. Suitable clothing is recommended: walking shoes or boots with a treaded sole, comfortable, waterproof clothing. The helmet with light is provided. Meeting point 10 minutes before departure at the adjoining Centro Visite of the Riserva Naturale Orientata di Onferno.
More information
Before heading into the caves, it is worth visiting the Centro Visite e Museo Naturalistico of the Onferno nature reserve, just nearby. The same goes for the Museo Multimediale Polifunzionale. Outside the Centro Visite is a paved area equipped with picnic tables and a rest area. A hostel and an inn are also available.
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