A 2019 full of satisfactions for the Castellana Caves, which recorded a new record number of visitors, confirming their role as a true asset for the area.
The data were illustrated last Thursday 23 January during a public conference, on the occasion of the eighty-second anniversary of the discovery of the caves, which took place in the Hall of Ceremonies of the town hall and in which the mayor took part Francesco De Ruvo, even the president Victor Casulli and the vice president Francesco Manghisi, who together with the councilor Maria Lacasella make up the Board of Directors of the Castellana Caves srl.
There were 321.982 visitors in 2019 (2.590 more than in 2018) and €4.120.304,00 in ticket revenue, an increase of approximately €40.000,00 over the previous year. The tourist site is estimated to have welcomed approximately 400.000 visitors in total, including the numerous events organized both inside and outside.
€1.243.919,78 in rent paid to the Municipality of Castellana Grotte, revenue that allows the citizens of Castellana Grotte to enjoy a very low municipal tax burden, with the lowest IMU and IRPEF rates in the Metropolitan City of Bari.
And then another 10.090 spectators for a takings of 155.115,00 euros for the show “Hell in the Cave – versi danzanti nell'aere fosco”, which confirms its success year after year.
These numbers demonstrate a positive trend that appears to be confirmed with an excellent start to 2020: 3.602 tourists visited the caves up to January 21 (1.000 more than in the entire month of January 2019, when 2.521 tourists visited the caves).
These figures are even more significant when you consider that throughout the year, the Castellana Caves employ over 100 people, including guides, tour leaders, administrative staff, and various collaborators.
These impressive numbers add another positive result for the Castellana Caves in 2019, a year in which efforts were made to offer tourists greater safety and comfort through infrastructure renovations across the entire tourist site, including the aesthetic and functional restoration of several internal and external structures. These included work on the ticket office, with a new roof, the embellishment of the entrance with new graphics and a bust in honor of Vito Matarrese, and the steps leading to the ticket office. Work was also carried out directly within the caves, including securing balconies and walkways by restoring walkways and upgrading railings along the visitor route. Significant renovations were also made to the renovated playgrounds and the pine forest, with the trees being cleaned and made safe.
