A moment of reflection and, at the same time, planning. A moment of sharing experiences and, at the same time, of discussion. From Friday, May 11th to Sunday, May 13th, 2018, in the halls of the "Franco Anelli" Speleological Museum in the Castellana Caves, the conference entitled "Caves, Tourism, and Scientific Research. 80 Years Since the Discovery of the Castellana Caves".
The three days of in-depth study and training will feature leading figures from the world of Italian speleology and representatives from some of Italy's most important tourist caves, starting naturally with the Castellana Caves in Puglia, which is hosting the event.
The conference, held just a few months after the visit of President Sergio Mattarella to Castellana and on the eightieth anniversary of the discovery of the Castellana Caves, aims to take stock of the world of caves and speleology, both in scientific and tourism contexts. The event, organized by the Puglia Grotte Group in collaboration with Grotte di Castellana srl, is sponsored by the Municipality of Castellana Grotte, the Italian Tourist Cave Association, the Italian Speleological Society, the Apulian Speleological Federation, and the Regional Order of Geologists of Puglia.
PROGRAM
The conference program is comprehensive and packed with events. All scheduled events will be held at the Franco Anelli Speleological Museum in the Castellana Caves.
It begins Friday May 11 2018, from 17pm to 19,30pm, with the workshop on “Communication and tourism strategies and methodologies for caves” (Moderator: Alessandro Reina, new scientific director of Grotte di Castellana srl). The event will open with official greetings from Francesco De Ruvo, mayor of Castellana Grotte; Giovanni Filomeno, councilor for tourism for the municipality of Castellana Grotte; Francescantonio D'Orilia, president of AGTI; and Salvatore Valletta, president of the Order of Geologists of Puglia. Following an introduction by Victor Casulli, president of Grotte di Castellana srl, speeches will be given by Pino Pace (Puglia Grotte Group), Giampietro Marchesi (Italian Speleological Society), Aldo Fedel (director of Grotta Gigante – Trieste), Luigino Quarchioni (director of the Frasassi Caves Consortium – Ancona), and Francescantonio D'Orilia (president of the Mida Foundation and Pertosa Caves – Salerno).
Saturday May 12 2018, from 9am to 13pm, second appointment on the theme “Science, popularization and speleology” (moderated by Mario Parise, University of Bari) with presentations by Vincenzo Pacelli (University of Foggia), Pino Pace (Puglia Grotte Group), Paolo Forti and Jo De Waele (University of Bologna), Alessandro Reina, Francesco Lomastro and Natalino Russo (La Venta Association) and the presentation of the book on the 25th anniversary of the Association of Geographical Explorations “La Venta”.
Sunday May 13th 2018, from 10am to 12pm, closing with the meeting “In memory of Giovanni Badino, speleologist, scientist, and passionate cave explorer” and the presentation of the study prize dedicated to Badino himself.
The Exhibition
It will be inaugurated Sunday May 6 2018 at 11 am Bovio Street, in the heart of Castellana Grotte, a stone's throw from the central Piazza Garibaldi, the historical photographic exhibition on the Castellana caves, on their discovery and on the events of the last 80 years.
The fantastic adventure of the mysterious underground world of the Castellana Caves began in 1938. Even today, it continues and renews, in the curious, the enthusiast, the child, and the adult, the same original emotions that captivated Lodi speleologist Franco Anelli on his first descent. We hope that, with the same excitement and curiosity, you will admire the Historical Photographic Exhibition of the Castellana Caves, composed of 11 photographic panels. A commemorative and celebratory excursus, divided into three sections, from the discovery to the present day, through two important phases: the touristization and the enjoyment of the karst site, under the expert and enthusiastic direction of Professor Anelli. it reads on the introductory panel to the exhibition.
The photos were taken from thePhotographic archive of the “Franco Anelli” Speleological Museum of the Castellana caves, dedicated to the professor and strongly desired by him to promote knowledge of the underground world.
The exhibition, organized by the Puglia Grotte Group, with the patronage of Grotte di Castellana srl and the Municipality of Castellana Grotte, aims to bring the history and excitement of the Apulian karst complex to the heart of the city and is part of the celebrations for the 80th anniversary of the discovery of the Castellana Caves.
