Grotta di Su Marmuri

The guided tour lasts around an hour and you are able to walk 1 kilometer into the cavern. The cave is an important hibernation location for at least 3 species of bats and so it cannot be visited during the winter period. During the winter the cave is also flooded with many waterfalls as the winter rains seep down into the limestone rock.

A consequence of the constantly running and dripping water is the presence of a wide variety of calcareous formations. From finger sized starter stalactites to giant stalagmite pillars. Over the millennia the shape of cavern is incrementally evolving, the rock is truly living. We took the 11am tour. Afterwards we struggled to find somewhere for lunch and ended up back at the restaurant at the cave. We were pleasantly surprised at the quality of the cooking.

These magnificent caves are located in Ulassai and you know you’re in for a treat because even the road to the caves is beautiful. The entrance is also impressive: you have to descend 200 steep and slippery steps before arriving at this 850-meter long cave with two underground lakes, basins, stalactites, stalagmites, columns and other spectacular formations. There are several galleries which are enormous. The internal temperature is rather cool so I’d suggest bringing at least a sweatshirt. All and all, it’s a really nice excursion for nature lovers.

At the foot of the mountain in Ulassai, Ogliastra, you can visit the cave of Su Marmuri, a massive cavern which reaches over one kilometer into the heart of the earth. The visit takes around an hour and is really exhilarating. Inside the cave there are massive halls that are over 50 meters long and stalactites and stalagmites of all shapes and sizes. You can only access the cave as part of a group tour but it's worth it. The different galleries have names based on their formations like the Organ Gallery or the Cactus Gallery. The cave is closed during winter so make sure to check ahead before you