Castellana Caves
Amusement Park Extensive karst caves in Apulia with stalactite formations
Show caves near Bari with large caverns, stalactites and guided tours through the Grotte di Castellana system; visitors reserve timed visits and explore accessible underground passages.
The Castellana Caves (Grotte di Castellana) are a karst cave system near the town of Castellana Grotte in Apulia, southern Italy, first explored in modern times in 1938. They are one of the most visited cave sites in Italy and include a notably bright chamber known as the “White Cave.”
Guided tours run along developed passages and chambers that showcase stalactites, stalagmites, columns and draperies, with electric lighting installed on the show route. The site offers routes of different lengths and difficulty; the main tourist path is the prepared, walked circuit used for standard visits.
The caves were brought to wider attention in 1938 by speleologist Franco Anelli, after local knowledge of the entrance. Since then they have been developed for tourism with paths, stairways and lighting, and have been managed as a show cave site with established visiting routes.
The entrance lies a short drive from the town of Castellana Grotte in the Bari area of Apulia, on the Murge limestone plateau of southern Italy. The site is accessed by road from nearby towns and from the coastal city of Bari.
How to Get to Castellana Caves #
The caves are in Castellana Grotte, Bari province. From Bari it is a roughly 40-50 minute drive on the SS16/E55 and SP113; there are regional trains to Castellana Grotte station with a short taxi or walk to the cave entrance. Visitor information and times are best checked on the official website.
Tips for Visiting Castellana Caves #
- Buy tickets in advance during summer weekends-tours can sell out quickly.
- The guided tour follows a marked route and includes many steep stairs; take care with children and limited-mobility company.
- Bring a light jacket: underground temperatures are roughly 15°C year-round.
Best Time to Visit Castellana Caves #
The Castellana Caves are visitable year-round; pick shoulder seasons if avoiding crowds on the surface matters.
Weather & Climate near Castellana Caves #
Castellana Caves's climate is classified as Cold Semi-Arid - Cold Semi-Arid climate with warm summers (peaking in July) and cold winters (coldest in February). Temperatures range from 3°C to 29°C. Moderate rainfall (583 mm/year).
January
January is cold with highs of 10°C and lows of 4°C. Moderate rainfall (54 mm) and partly cloudy skies.
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February
February is the coolest month with highs of 10°C and lows of 3°C. Moderate rainfall (60 mm) and partly cloudy skies.
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March
March is cold with highs of 13°C and lows of 5°C. Moderate rainfall (58 mm) and partly cloudy skies.
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April
April is cool with highs of 16°C and lows of 7°C. Moderate rainfall (40 mm) and partly cloudy skies.
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May
May is cool with highs of 22°C and lows of 12°C. Moderate rainfall (38 mm).
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June
June is mild with highs of 26°C and lows of 15°C. Light rainfall and mostly sunny skies.
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July
July is the warmest month with highs of 29°C and lows of 18°C. The driest month with just 25 mm and clear sunny skies.
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August
August is mild with highs of 28°C and lows of 18°C. Moderate rainfall (31 mm) and clear sunny skies.
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September
September is mild with highs of 25°C and lows of 15°C. Moderate rainfall (48 mm) and mostly sunny skies.
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October
October is cool with highs of 19°C and lows of 12°C. Moderate rainfall (66 mm).
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November
November is cool with highs of 14°C and lows of 8°C. The wettest month with 69 mm of rain and partly cloudy skies.
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December
December is cold with highs of 12°C and lows of 5°C. Moderate rainfall (65 mm) and partly cloudy skies.
