Discovering the Stiffe Caves

The province of L'Aquila, rich in a great historical and natural heritage, offers the opportunity for the curious and enthusiasts to visit a natural spectacle of rare beauty: the Stiffe Caves. Located above the small village of Stiffe, they welcome numerous visitors from all over Italy throughout the year.

These caves are technically considered to be a resurgence due to the presence within them of a watercourse which, after passing through an underground section, returns to the light. The constant presence of the river, which reaches considerable flow rates at certain times of the year, is one of the peculiarities of these caves of karstic origin. The route can be divided into several stages.

Upon entering the cavity, the visitor is immediately struck by the initial snow-white colour of the rock walls, until reaching the first 'hall' known as the hall of silence. In this part of the cave, where the river often dries up, one does not hear the classic roar of the waters that characterises part of the later rooms and is enveloped in an evocative silence.

The atmosphere changes in the next room of the waterfall, much larger than the previous one, in which one can admire the stream make a twenty-metre leap. This is followed by the hall of concretions, where we can feel, enveloped in a feeling of relaxation, the perfect combination of the gentle murmur of the water and the harmonious, soft lines of the stalactites.

We then enter the oldest part of the cave where, after admiring other examples of concretions, including some stalagmites, we arrive in a larger area in which there is the 'black lake', a sheet of water that is calm even during periods of flood. We begin to hear in this area again the loud, if distant, sound of the waters. We approach the last waterfall.

Twenty-five metres high, it contributes to the waters gaining such speed that it creates a strong impact with the rocks below and a consequent loud roar. An opportunity to admire a natural spectacle in its most restless and wild form.

The 'Grotte di Stiffe' tourist complex therefore offers an unusual and unforgettable experience. Located in one of the most beautiful corners of Abruzzo, it also provides many services, including a bar, a picnic area, a children's playground, a souvenir shop, as well as beautiful nature trails to explore the flora and fauna of the area.