THE FEAT OF JANUARY 23, 1938 CELEBRATED
The usual ceremony for the anniversary of the discovery of the Castellana Caves (Ba) took place in the presence of the administrators, the authorities and the professor's families. Franco Anelli, the speleologist who first descended into the Grave cave, starting the exploration, and of Vito Matarrese, the man from Castellana who was passionate about speleology and who accompanied Anelli on his subsequent descents and to whom we owe the discovery of the White Cave.
The event was an opportunity to remember the feat of 84 years ago, when on January 23, 1938, using a rope ladder, defying the dark legends surrounding a black abyss that opened in the heart of an olive grove, the first courageous step was taken to the bottom of the Grave cavern, bringing the subterranean wonder to light.
A brief ceremony culminated in the laying of flowers before Anelli's commemorative bust inside the Grave, then the celebrations moved to the museum named after the speleologist, where the discoverer's family officially donated to the Castellana Caves the historic typewriter used by the professor to write texts relating to the karst site. “When I'm here I still feel my grandfather's presence alive - he has declared Francesco Anelli, grandson of the speleologist – This is why I believe that his faithful typewriter, the legendary Olivetti Lettera 22, used for so many years to recount this discovery, should be here with him, forever."
An unforgettable moment that will go down in the history of the karst site and which was also an opportunity to remember another important anniversary, that of the eightieth year since the discovery, which four years ago brought the President of the Republic to visit the caves. Sergio Mattarella.
The typewriter will be one of the prized exhibits in the museum dedicated to Anelli, which visitors will be able to admire at the end of their visit to the karst site. added Victor Casulli, President of the Board of Directors of Grotte di Castellana – We celebrate this anniversary every year with emotion, hoping that next year we will leave the pandemic behind us once and for all so we can celebrate it again in grand style, as we did on our eightieth anniversary.".
"The Castellana Caves are a true wonder of nature. In our beloved land, we preserve a priceless treasure that thousands of visitors from around the world marvel at every year. – underlined the Mayor of Castellana Grotte, Francesco De Ruvo As citizens of Castellana we renew our collective thanks to Anelli and Matarrese for having revealed such beauty to us and we, as administrators, today have the responsibility and the great honour of continuing to work to safeguard it, enhance it and make it better known.".
The day of celebrations concluded with a special repeat of the show Hell in the Cave, free representation of the first canticle of the Divine Comedy set in the cave of the Grave, directed by Enrico RomitaOn this occasion, the cast of the show was joined on stage by the special guest Hector Bassi, da Giusy Frallonardo, author of the dramaturgy of the show, and live music by Paul Peace e Giuseppe De Trizio, who took care of the soundtrack.
Hell in the Cave is the permanent show at the Castellana Caves that brings Dante Alighieri's Inferno to the stage with music, dance, lighting, and narration. Spectators are guided by demons and the damned on a journey in the footsteps of the Poet, discovering the Divine Comedy's iconic characters, and finally seeing the stars again with the sweet Beatrice.
