Also known as the Grotte della Figlia di Jorio, since the painter Francesco Paolo Michetti drew inspiration from them for the creation of the sets of the II act of D'Annunzio's pastoral drama of the same name, the Grotte del Cavallone are the only karst complex of speleological interest that can be visited in the Majella National Park and, with its 1475 m of altitude, it is the highest in Europe. Located in the municipalities of Taranta Peligna and Lama dei Peligni, in the province of Chieti, the caves, so called probably because of an enormous profile of a horse's head that can be glimpsed along the wall of the entrance to the cavity, can be reached by a slow and suggestive ascent by cable car, or rather double basket lift, lasting about 20 minutes, which from Pian della Valle rises to an altitude of 1388 m along the Vallone di Taranta thus allowing you to observe the majesty of the Mother Mountain, the Majella. Then continue for a short stretch on foot and up a flight of 180 steps, until you reach the Belvedere.
The guided tour lasts just over an hour and takes place at a constant temperature of 10°C, with a humidity of 90%, along a route that develops for over a kilometre, divided between a main gallery and three secondary branches .
For information on timetables, contacts, costs and for a guided tour inside the caves, click on the links below.
Guide into the caves
Personal site of the caves of the hourse
