Discover The Hidden Depths Of Underground Tuscany!

Try something new with a tour around some of Tuscany’s most interesting caves! There are 1,597 caves in total and many are open for public exploration, namely in towns like Bagni di Lucca, Montecatini and Castell‘Azzara. There is plenty of superb luxury villas in Montecatini to choose from that would be perfect for relaxing in after a long and exciting day of underground exploration!

Beside the town of Bagni di Lucca, there are two unusual thermal caves that are heated by the geothermal activity that goes on under the earth here. They're called Grotta Grande and Grotta Paolina. Grotta Paolina (named after Napoleon’s sister), is the smaller cave and has an unusual temperature inside.

The air is warmest around stomach height and colder around the head and feet! It has perfect conditions to help ailments such as poor circulation, stress and rheumatism. The caves are open between March and January in the mornings and the entry fee is €16.50 for Grotta Paolina and €14.50 for Grotta Grande.

Maona cave in Montecatini in Pistoia province is the only cave in Italy to house two underground pools. The first pool is twenty metres deep and two hundred metres long and the second is at the end of a series of tunnels and galleries and is surrounded by mesmerising stalactites hanging from the ceiling and stalagmites towering up from the floor.

These are indeed spectacular sights to behold! The cave is open from the 1st April until 15th October from 9am – 12pm and 3pm – 6pm. Entry is only €4.50.

Don't miss an opportunity to visit Sassocolato cave in Grosetto province during your travels! It’s located only a short walk from Castell’ Azzara up a hill called Poggio delle Forche. This fascinating cave is home to several sub species of Chirotteri bats that live here in their thousands!

There are two tours available of the cave; one is only a hour long and simply requires good hiking boots. The second lasts three hours and involves a cave sport called potholing where you can explore the cave in a more interactive way by abseiling, rock climbing and wading through streams to get up close to some incredible rock formations and incredible sights!

Also worth visiting is the nearby Museo delle Acque in Santa Fiora where these tours can be booked and tourists can learn more about the history and geology of this captivating place! It’s open from the 10th April until 10th November. The first tour is €6 and the second is €75 including an expert guide who will lead you safely throughout this beautiful cave system.

Read through another intriguing related article on caves and mines throughout Tuscany!