Grotta di San Giovanni, Natural cave in Domusnovas, Italy.
Grotta di San Giovanni is a natural cave in Domusnovas with passages extending over 3920 meters, including a main tunnel spanning roughly 850 meters. This main passage once functioned as a route connecting two valleys before modern roads were built.
The cave served as a shelter during the Neolithic period, as shown by pottery and artifacts discovered inside over time. For centuries afterward, its main passage remained an important route for people moving between the surrounding valleys.
The cave houses a former Byzantine chapel and a small church dedicated to Saint John near its southern entrance, reflecting its long-standing spiritual role. Visitors walking through can sense how this space has held meaning for people across different periods.
Visitors can join guided tours scheduled on weekends or explore the cave independently on weekdays from 10:30 to 16:30. Wear sturdy shoes and bring a jacket, as the cave stays cool year-round regardless of outside weather.
This cave ranks as the longest carriage cave in Italy and one of only seven of its type worldwide, making it geologically unusual. Its passages were spacious enough to allow people to travel through with wagons and carts, which was remarkable for natural cave systems.
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