Are you ready for an underground adventure that will take your breath away? Look no further than the Stiffe Caves in Abruzzo, Italy. These karst caves feature an underground river (Rio Gamberale), impressive underground waterfalls, and crystal-clear lakes. Whether you’re a seasoned caver or a curious traveler, a visit to the Stiffe Caves is an unforgettable experience.
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What are the Stiffe Caves
The Stiffe Caves are an incredibly interesting karst cave system formed by the erosion of limestone rocks located in Abruzzo, Central Italy. The caves are home to an underground river, waterfalls, and lakes, and they also boast a rich biodiversity.
These Stiffe Caves, technically, constitute an “active resurgence“. The term typically refers to a point where groundwater re-emerges at the Earth’s surface as a spring or a stream. It is called “active” because the water is currently flowing and “resurgence” because it is a re-emergence of groundwater that has been flowing underground.
The caves can be visited via guided tour only, which includes a walk along a 700-meter-long path with several bridges and stairs and 2 major waterfalls. The 700 meters open to the public are only a portion of the over 6km of underground caves present in Stiffe, most of which are yet to be explored. Speleologist explorations only reached less than 3km, discovering 7 more impressive waterfalls. Many more are yet to be discovered.
As of most caves, the temperature inside the Stiffe Caves is constant and it is around 10°C (50°F), so it’s better to cover up and dress accordingly.
DO YOU LIKE CAVES? Don’t miss the Caves of Monte Cucco in central Italy, or the caves of Krizna Jama and Postojna in Slovenia.
How to get to the Stiffe Caves
The caves are located in Stiffe, which is part of the town of San Demetrio ne’ Vestini. It is just 20km from L’Aquila, Abruzzo’s capital city. Reaching the Stiffe Caves is quite easy if you’re travelling by car or van across Italy. Once you reach the town of Stiffe, however, you’ll need to go to different places depending on the time of the year of your visit.
There is a gate (“❓” on the map below) on the road leading up to the cave entrance. When it’s high season and many people visit Stiffe, the gate is closed and a shuttle bus transfers visitors up the cave entrance. During low season on the other hand, the gate is open.
- GATE IS OPEN: Head directly to the caves. You can drive all the way up to the ticket office and park your car along the road near the cave entrance (purple P).
- GATE IS CLOSED: Head to the other parking (marked in gray). From here, a shuttle bus operates during high season and brings visitors up the cave.
The little hut below is the ticket office (marked in purple), and that is the view from the relative parking lot (also marked in purple).
Opening time
The Stiffe Caves are open year-round, while the opening times change slightly depending on the season. Here is the updated opening hours as of April 2023:
- From April 1st to October 15th, the opening hours are from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. (ticket office closes at 5:45 p.m. and last admission is at 6:00 p.m.).
- From October 15th to January 31st, the opening hours are from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
- From February 1st to March 31st, the opening hours are:
- Monday to Friday, from 11:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and from 3:30 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.
- Saturday and Sunday, from 10:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and from 2:30 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Visits start every hour, and you must be at the ticket office 20-30 minutes before your time slot.
Stiffe Caves: Entrance fee
The entrance fee for visiting the Stiffe Caves is 12€ for adults. Reduced tickets are available for children aged 6 to 14, people over 70 yo and university students. Entrance is free for children under the age of 6, and for disabled people.
Reservation is not mandatory, but it’s recommended. You can book your visit at the Caves’ official website.
People without a reservation can still show up and buy a ticket at the ticket office. If the place is crowded however, you may not be allowed to enter without reservation.
Where to stay near Stiffe
As noted earlier, L’Aquila is conveniently located near the Stiffe Caves and makes for a great base for a day trip to the area. Alternatively, the breathtaking surroundings of the caves are well worth exploring at a leisurely pace, and staying overnight in the area can provide a unique and immersive experience that truly showcases the natural beauty of Abruzzo.
To the west lies the Altopiano delle Rocche, a scenic plateau characterized by lush forests and breathtaking views. Further south, the impressive Sirente-Velino Regional Park boasts an abundance of natural wonders, including pristine lakes, lush forests and stunning vistas of the Apennine Mountains.
Here are some of the best accommodations in the area:
- ON A BUDGET: La Palummara is located in the charming town of San Panfilo dʼOcre, just a few minutes away from Stiffe. Rooms start from 40€ per person per night. The Country House Al Faraone is a slightly cheaper option, with rooms starting from 65€/night for two people. If you’re travelling in a group or as a family you may want to check out the holiday home Il Castello, with their two-bedroom apartment starting from 84€/night for 4 people.
- MID-RANGE: A really beautiful accommodation priced from 97€/night is B&B Lo Chalet Di Ocre, a wooden chalet with mountain views and private garden. Other solid options in this range are Residenza Cappelli (from 90€/night) and B&B Palazzo La Loggia (also from 90€/night).
- LUXURY: The best luxury accommodations in the area are Antica Dimora del Tratturo Magno, Dimora Fortebraccio and B&B Residenza San Giorgio. All three are priced at about 160€/night for two people.
DETAILED GUIDE
Our experience at the Stiffe Caves
We visited the Stiffe Caves in April 2023 which was off-peak time. When we got to the town, the gate was open so we cruised straight to the caves. We were running a bit late and hadn’t booked in advance, but the guide at the ticket office was a total legend and let us in right away.
Our group was relatively small (about 10 people), and after a short briefing the guide gave us helmets and lead us into the cave. There is a wooden footbridge which crosses the river and leads to the entrance. From here you can already see the river flowing out of the cave, and the point where it actually re-emerges from underground.
The cave path is designed for easy traversal. It is fully paved and fitted with handrails, with only a few occasional steps. As you stroll along, the path criss-crosses the river in some of the wider sections.
Where the water flows through some narrower passages, a few man-made tunnels allow visitors to proceed deeper in the cave. Please note that the cave environment is highly humid, and as a result, the path can frequently be wet and slippery.
Beyond a couple of sizable cave chambers, just a short distance from the entrance, prepare to be amazed by the first subterranean waterfall that awaits you! Here the underground river plunges more than 20 meters into a large pool. This breathtaking sight is just the beginning of the waterfall experience at Stiffe Caves, as there are more to discover along the way.
The waterfalls are lit up with carefully placed lights, which create a magical atmosphere and highlight the intricate details of the rock formations surrounding the falls. The combination of the thundering sounds of the waterfalls and the dramatic lighting effects make for an unforgettable sensory experience.
As you continue your journey through the Stiffe Caves, you’ll encounter a plethora of smaller waterfalls, breathtaking rock formations, and enchanting cave chambers. The guide stops in some of the most interesting spots and tells the group some facts about the cave, which add value to the whole experience.
At the end of the 700-meter trail lies the second main underground waterfall of Stiffe. Although the cave chamber here is smaller, visitors are treated to an up-close and personal experience with the falls via a small platform that allows them to get much closer to the cascade. The result is an awe-inspiring display of power and beauty, as visitors can feel the mist and spray of the waterfall in a truly immersive way.
After reaching the second and final waterfall, the guide took us back to the entrance without making any stops. As the trail does not form a loop within the caves, we had the chance to see everything once more before bidding farewell to this natural wonder.
The entire tour lasted approximately one hour, and we can confidently say that it was a highly enjoyable and memorable experience that we would highly recommend to anyone with a thirst for adventure and a love of the natural world.
Best tips for visiting the Stiffe Caves
- Wear reliable hiking/waterproof shoes with a good grip when exploring Stiffe Caves. The trails can be wet and slippery, so you’ll want footwear you can trust with every step.
- Dress up! The temperature inside the cave is 10°C (50°F) year-round, so it’s best to wear warm clothes, especially if you visit the caves during summer time when it’s much hotter outside.
- Make a reservation if visiting during high season. Pay online and avoid any trouble once at the caves.
- Before leaving, take a moment to enjoy the little waterfall located in the town of Stiffe itself, just a short walk away from the ticket office.
The little waterfall of Stiffe
Despite its close proximity to the Stiffe Caves, many visitors are unaware of the charming little waterfall located in the town of Stiffe itself. Just a short stroll away from the ticket office (marked in grey), this hidden gem is situated a mere couple of hundred meters away and is well worth a visit for those seeking to explore the natural wonders of the area.
