Riserva naturale integrale Grotta Monello, Nature reserve near Syracuse, Italy.

Riserva naturale integrale Grotta Monello is a protected nature reserve located on the eastern section of the Hyblaean plateau, featuring a limestone cave system with stalactites and stalagmites. The underground formation includes interconnected passages that reveal different geological layers.

The cave system was discovered in 1948 when local explorers noticed cold air rising from the ground near an oil mill. This finding led to recognition of the site as an important geological location.

The reserve is named after Grotta Monello, the cave at its centre. Since 14 July 2017 the Museo del carsismo ibleo has introduced visitors to the cave, explaining the karst processes and the troglobitic fauna. The museum displays are part of the visit, not an optional extra.

Access to the cave system requires advance permission and specialized guided tours. Visitors should contact the managing organization to arrange an authorized visit.

The cave was first entered in autumn 1948 by Lucio Vizzini and Santo Tiné, who lowered themselves on a rope into a fissure among the olive trees after the landowner Sebastiano Monello told them of an unexplained draught of air rising from his grove. They brought out Cretaceous fragments of prehistoric interest.