Pastena Caves, Natural karst cave system in Pastena, Italy

Pastena Caves is a natural karst cave system in the province of Frosinone, stretching approximately 900 meters with both active and inactive geological formations. The caverns contain multiple chambers decorated with stalactites and stalagmites of varying sizes and ages.

The caves were discovered by Carlo Franchetti in 1926 and opened to the public as a tourist destination the following year. This early development made them one of the first show caves in the region.

The caves have appeared in Italian films three times: Alberto Sordi shot scenes here in 1985 for Sono un fenomeno paranormale, Fantozzi va in pensione was filmed in 1988 with the caves standing in for Postojna Cave, and Terence Hill used them in 2014 for the TV series Un passo dal cielo.

The visit runs through the active lower branch, where a small stream and a waterfall drop into a pool about 4 metres deep; the ground is damp and uneven, so wear sturdy shoes. The upper fossil branch has been dry for millennia and shows no dripping formations. The caves lie 4.5 km from Pastena on the road to Castro dei Volsci.

In 2001–2008 the University of Perugia and the Lazio archaeological superintendency excavated prehistoric burials and ritual offerings in the caves. A bronze axe and dagger from about the 15th century BC were found on the bottom of one of the small lakes in the active branch, offerings tied to leading male figures of the community.