The emotions of an excursion to a depth of 70 metres with Speleonight, those of observation with the telescope with “A night with Sirius” and those, always magical, of Hell in the Cave: a very busy calendar in August for the Castellana Caves (Ba), thanks to the events of the three main attractions of the karst complex.
Speleonight
It starts from SpeleonightThree exclusive nighttime tours of the Castellana Caves, half of which are conducted in the dark, are available after closing time for groups of at least 15 people. Visitors are led by guides from the Puglia Grotte Group, equipped with helmets, canisters, and acetylene lights. The goal is to showcase, along the way, the colors, sensations, and emotions experienced by the first explorers. Speleologists lead participants on a unique excursion, during which they can hear the sounds of the caves, glimpse and observe the fauna that inhabits them, and experience the intense emotions of walking alone for a stretch.
Available dates: Sunday, July 28th, Friday, August 9th, and Sunday, August 11th (the experience begins at 9:00 PM, meeting at the Castellana Caves ticket office at 8:30 PM). To book, please email segreteria@grottedicastellana.it or call +39 080 4998221 (9:30 AM - 1:00 PM and 3:00 PM - 6:30 PM).
Sirius Astronomical Observatory
Instead, there are seven appointments with “A Night with Sirius”, calendar of events organized at theSirius Astronomical Observatory to the Castellana caves (terrace of the Franco Anelli Speleological Museum).
Dates: Monday, August 5th, Tuesday, August 6th, Saturday, August 17th, Friday, August 23rd, and Wednesday, August 28th, from 9:30 PM to midnight. Celestial observation, including telescope observations of Jupiter, Saturn, and the Moon. Access by reservation only, by calling +39 080 4998211 (9:30 AM to 1:00 PM and 3:00 PM to 6:30 PM). Admission is €7, free for children under 8.
Specials: Saturday 10th and Monday 12th August, in two shifts from 21,30pm to 23pm and from 23pm to 00,30am, observation of the celestial sphere, telescope observation of Jupiter, Saturn and the Moon and multimedia projection “The phenomenon of shooting stars”. Access is by reservation only, by calling 080.4998211 (9:30 am - 1:00 pm and 3:00 pm - 6:30 pm). Entrance fee is 4 euros, free for children up to 8 years old.
Hell in the Cave
Finally, eight dates of Hell in the Cave – verses dancing in the dark air, the permanent show inspired by the Inferno from Dante's Divine Comedy, performed year-round in the Castellana Caves. This show, which combines dance, voices, sounds, and lights against the natural backdrop of the Castellana Caves, will be performed on Friday, July 26th, Friday, July 9th, Saturday, July 10th, Friday, July 16th, Saturday, July 17th, Friday, August 23rd, Friday, August 30th, and Saturday, August 31st. A spectacle of macroscopic proportions, a grandiose and impressive multimedia installation, capable of embracing the entire natural environment as a stage, where innovative theatrical dynamics will captivate the audience and lead them on an extraordinary adventure through Dante's Inferno.
Inspired by the circles of Dante's Divine Comedy, Hell in the Cave is Dante's Inferno seen from the center of the earth, 70 meters underground, among karst concretions shaped by nature over 90 million years. An evocative setting serves as both the backdrop and the protagonist of the show, featuring damned souls and demons, but also celestial, pure-white figures led by the enchanting Beatrice. The cast of dancers and actors makes the Hell in the Cave experience unique.
Tickets for the show are on sale online at ticketone.it. For information and reservations, call 3391176722. Tickets cost €20.
A combination ticket for the Castellana Caves (full tour including the White Grotto) and the Hell in the Cave ticket is also available: the total cost will be €28 instead of €36. For more information, visit www.hellinthecave.it.
