Top 20 Caves in Tuscany
Caves in Tuscany offer a diverse range of underground experiences within a region known for its varied landscapes. The area features over 1,500 natural caves and 270 kilometers of underground tunnels. These subterranean sites include geological formations, thermal springs, and ancient historical pathways. Tuscany's underground world provides opportunities for exploration and understanding of natural and historical processes.
Best caves in Tuscany
- The most popular caves is Via Cava di San Giuseppe, a trail that forms part of an Etruscan road system carved into tuff rock. This ancient pathway is known for its steep walls, some exceeding 20 meters in height, and its historical connection to settlements and necropolises.
- Another must-see spot is The Icehouse of Cattiglio, a cave used historically for food preservation. Visitors can experience a significant temperature difference between the outside and inside, even during warmer months, due to the cave's natural cooling properties.
- Visitors also love Embrace Waterfall, a waterfall with a large cave formed behind it. This unique feature allows visitors to observe a waterfall from behind, especially impressive after heavy rains or when ice formations appear in winter.
- Tuscany is known for its natural karst caves, thermal grottoes, and ancient Etruscan carved pathways. These include extensive underground systems, natural thermal spas, and historical routes cut into rock.
- The caves in Tuscany are appreciated by the komoot community, with 91 highlights, 206 photos, and 169 upvotes showcasing their appeal.
Last updated: May 4, 2026
Via Cava di San Giuseppe
Highlight (Segment) • Trail
The Via Cava di San Giuseppe is one of the most evocative in the area, as well as the longest, leading up to Pitigliano. This street is associated with the traditional torchlight procession of San Giuseppe, which is held on March 19th. The link between ancient pagan rites and the dark atmosphere along the route, which still persists today, dates back to Christian times, when small niches with painted sacred images, known as "devil chasers", were dug to protect travellers.
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The Icehouse of Cattiglio
Highlight • Cave
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Embrace Waterfall
Highlight • Waterfall
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Via Cava di San Rocco
Highlight (Segment) • Gorge
The Vie Cave, dug by the Etruscans about 3000 years ago in the tuff, are still shrouded in mystery regarding the technique used to sculpt the rock so precisely and vertically. This street represents the most important of the Vie Cave around Sorano, as it guided the Etruscans to their necropolis. Incredibly, for over six centuries, from the Middle Ages until 1940, it was the only road that connected the city of Sorano to Sovana. Every horse, cart and traveler had no choice but to travel this steep, damp road between its high walls.
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Tomba Ildebranda
Highlight • Historical Site
If you catch one of the rare moments that the facility can be visited, the 5 € per person are in my opinion. well invested (Sept. 2020)
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Spelonca Hermitage
Highlight (Segment) • Religious Site
The hermitage was founded in 1190 by the black hermits (by the priests magister Johannes de Petris, later called Honestus, and Dulcis). The founders were not hermits in the classical sense who chose solitude and meditation (eremos = alone), but groups of monks who decided to live together like the apostles, in poverty, in rather isolated places, even in contrast with the ecclesiastical institutions. They also dedicated themselves to the religious assistance of the population who lived in these places and who had difficulty reaching the churches. There were many hermit settlements in Tuscany and especially on the Monti Pisani, which some identify with the Mons heremita, which also appears in a fresco in the Camposanto monumentale of Pisa and in another in the church of S. Agostino in S. Gimignano. The many legends that exist regarding the presence of hermits on the Monti Pisani at the beginning of the Christian era and in the early Middle Ages are not, to this day, supported by documentary or archaeological evidence.
The most evident construction currently is represented by a small single-hall church, from a later period than the foundation; the facade and the barrel vault are from 1800, but the structures, which also show a later extension that could have eliminated a previous apse, are of medieval origin.
An uncommon case, there are interesting structures in its vicinity dug directly into the rock including a cistern with a quadrangular mouth, dug partly into the rock and partly into the cave room by means of a retaining wall, on which there are also stone supports and notches in the rock (probable support of wooden structures), a staircase with holes for a gate or door and a circular basin surrounded by channels, post holes and joints; furthermore, base rooms for probable structures of the hermitage are visible. Similar structures also seem to be present on the right side beyond the opening of the cave.
From Comunedipisa.it
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Calomini Hermitage
Highlight • Religious Site
The suggestive architectural complex is located at the base of a large overhanging wall and according to a tradition it was built right in the place where a jet of pure water gushed from the rocks and the image of the Madonna was revealed to a shepherdess of Calomini.
The oldest part is the sacristy, carved into the rock with chisels presumably before the year 1000, which was probably the original nucleus of the place of worship.
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Etruscan Necropolis of Sovana
Highlight • Historical Site
The magical atmosphere of the place is further enriched by the presence of suggestive hollow streets, with the Via Cava di San Sebastiano, squeezed between walls of over 20 meters, the Via Cava di Poggio Prisca and the Cavone, on whose walls you can admire engravings from different eras, including crosses with exorcistic purposes and a large swastika, a solar symbol.
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Rupestrian Oratory of San Sebastiano
Highlight • Cave
The oratory was almost certainly realized by using one of the many existing archaic tombs in the upper part of the via Cava, many of which are still visible. In fact, it was common for the monks and Christian hermits of the Middle Ages to take advantage of the remote location of these environments to reach the small places of worship suitable for prayer and meditation.
From the various openings in the oratory you can see the wall of the via Cava and the remains of some Etruscan tombs looted in ancient times.
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Malaparte Cave
Highlight • Cave
Where did Dante go from to go to hell? But from Prato of course! Curzio Malaparte was sure of it and in some little-known stories he wrote it clearly: the gate of Hades is located in the city that gave him birth and precisely in Galceti.
The exact location of the cave – narrated in texts such as The adventures of a captain of misfortune (1927), Imaginary Tuscany (1936), Games in front of Hell (1937), The golden sun of Etruscan Hell (1956), as well as a Maledetti Toscani (1957) – was identified after careful research by the association «Curzio Malaparte Prato in the world», founded and chaired by Walter Bernardi.
Here are some passages from the story in which Malaparte describes the cave of hell.
«The memory of the people of Prato wants us to go down to Hell along the road to Figline. Dante passed by there, along the Bardena: the wild forest is the pine forest of Galceti». «A few years ago a cartman from Coiano, whom I saw and knew up close, once entered a green marble quarry that had been abandoned for centuries, right under the third hump of Monferrato, near Figline, and came out with his face burnt , half blind and deaf, speechless with fright. His name was Agenor. From his hat, found under a stone at the entrance to a green marble quarry, at the bottom of the Galceti pine forest, it was understood that he had descended to Hell, all dressed up and with his feet in shoes, like Orpheus».
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Tips from the Community
The Via Cava di San Rocco is one of the most impressive Etruscan paths in the area. The trail is entirely dug into the tuff, with vertical walls reaching up to 20 meters high, hosting lush vegetation of ferns and mosses. The route connects the Lente river valley with the plateau above. Along the ascent, you will encounter ancient water channeling systems and stairs carved into the rock. Once you reach the upper end, you arrive at the panoramic area of San Rocco, from which you can enjoy the most iconic view of the settlement of Sorano and the Orsini Fortress. The ground can be damp and slippery due to the cool microclimate of the walls.
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Through a very narrow, high gorge (can be damp in spring), you finally reach this oratory via steps.
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The exhibition grounds are definitely worth a visit and can be easily combined with a circular hike from Sovana.
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You can also visit the excavations on a circular hike from Sorana. The €7.00 is definitely worth it for this very interesting site.
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The rupestrian (cave) oratory is located at the top of the San Sebastiano via cava and consists of two irregular rooms, the walls of the chambers were engraved with many Latin crosses, including one on a small mountain that probably represents Golgotha. The oratory was almost certainly realized by using one of the many existing archaic tombs in the upper part of the via Cava, many of which are still visible. In fact, it was common for the monks and Christian hermits of the Middle Ages to take advantage of the remote location of these environments to reach the small places of worship suitable for prayer and meditation. From the various openings in the oratory you can see the wall of the via Cava and the remains of some Etruscan tombs looted in ancient times.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Are there family-friendly caves to visit in Tuscany?
Yes, several caves in Tuscany are suitable for families. The Via Cava di San Rocco, an ancient Etruscan pathway carved into tuff rock, is considered family-friendly. Additionally, the Grotta del Vento in Garfagnana offers well-organized guided tours of varying lengths, making it accessible for different age groups. The Grotte Equi Terme is also known as a "Geo-Archeo-Adventure Park," suggesting family-oriented activities.
What historical or archaeological sites can be found in Tuscany's underground?
Tuscany's underground world is rich in history. The ancient Etruscan pathways known as Vie Cave, such as Via Cava di San Giuseppe and Via Cava di San Rocco, are impressive routes carved into tuff rock leading to necropolises. The Etruscan Necropolis of Sovana also features underground elements. For a glimpse into historical preservation methods, The Icehouse of Cattiglio was historically used for food storage.
What kind of natural geological features can I expect to see in Tuscan caves?
Tuscan caves showcase diverse geological formations. The Grotta del Vento features underground rivers, waterfalls, siphons, and impressive speleothems like stalactites and stalagmites. The Antro del Corchia, Italy's largest karst complex, is an extensive underground maze filled with various stalactites and stalagmites, offering a significant geological theater. You can also find unique features like the Embrace Waterfall, which has a large cave formed behind it, allowing visitors to observe the waterfall from a unique perspective.
Are there caves in Tuscany known for thermal springs or wellness activities?
Yes, Grotta Giusti in Monsummano Terme is renowned for its natural thermal spa. Giuseppe Verdi famously called it the "eighth wonder of the world." It functions as a natural Turkish bath, with thermal pools, waterfalls, and a wellness center offering therapeutic treatments, making it an ideal spot for relaxation and recovery.
What is the best time of year to visit caves in Tuscany?
Many caves in Tuscany, especially those with stable internal temperatures like Grotta del Vento or Antro del Corchia, can be visited year-round. For thermal caves like Grotta Giusti, any time is suitable for relaxation. For outdoor cave experiences like the Vie Cave or the Embrace Waterfall, visiting after heavy rains or in cooler months can enhance the experience, as waterfalls are more active and ice formations might appear in winter.
How long does it typically take to explore a cave in Tuscany, and what are the difficulty levels?
Exploration times and difficulty vary significantly. For example, Grotta del Vento offers guided tours ranging from one to three hours. The Vie Cave, while not natural caves, can involve hikes of varying lengths and difficulty, with some sections being steep. Many highlights, including the Via Cava di San Giuseppe and The Icehouse of Cattiglio, are rated as intermediate difficulty, while some, like the Rupestrian Oratory of San Sebastiano, are considered challenging.
Are permits required to visit caves in Tuscany, and what about parking?
For organized tourist caves like Grotta del Vento and Antro del Corchia, guided tours are typically required, and tickets should be purchased in advance. These sites usually have dedicated parking facilities. For less formal or historical sites like the Vie Cave, permits are generally not needed, but parking might be available in nearby towns such as Pitigliano, Sovana, or Sorano. Always check specific site requirements before your visit.
What outdoor activities can I combine with a visit to Tuscan caves?
Tuscany offers a wide range of outdoor activities that can be combined with cave exploration. You can find numerous hiking trails in Tuscany, including routes like the Poggio to Monte Capanne Trail or the Trail of the Weirs. For cyclists, there are road cycling routes such as the GF White Roads, and MTB trails like the Monte Calamita Loop Trail, especially in areas like the Apuan Alps where many caves are located.
Are there any unique or unusual cave experiences in Tuscany?
Beyond typical cave tours, Tuscany offers unique experiences. The Icehouse of Cattiglio provides a fascinating insight into historical food preservation, with a noticeable temperature difference even in summer. The Embrace Waterfall allows you to walk behind a waterfall, offering a rare perspective. The Vie Cave, like Via Cava di San Giuseppe, are ancient Etruscan roads carved into rock, providing a journey through history and mystery.
What is the difference between Grotta del Vento and Antro del Corchia?
Both Grotta del Vento and Antro del Corchia are significant cave systems in the Apuan Alps, but they offer different experiences. Grotta del Vento is known for its accessibility and well-equipped tourist infrastructure, offering guided tours through various geological features like rivers and speleothems. Antro del Corchia, on the other hand, is Italy's largest karst complex and one of Europe's most extensive cave systems, recognized for its vastness, scientific value, and ongoing discoveries, making it more appealing to those interested in large-scale geological exploration.
What should I wear when exploring caves in Tuscany?
When exploring caves in Tuscany, it's advisable to wear comfortable clothing and sturdy footwear, such as hiking boots, as surfaces can be uneven and wet. Even in summer, cave interiors maintain a constant cool temperature, so a light jacket or sweater is recommended. For historical pathways like the Vie Cave, good walking shoes are essential due to the terrain.
Are there any religious sites associated with caves in Tuscany?
Yes, Tuscany has several religious sites integrated with caves. The Spelonca Hermitage and the Calomini Hermitage are examples of religious buildings built into or near cave formations. The Rupestrian Oratory of San Sebastiano is another cave-related religious site, showcasing the historical use of natural shelters for spiritual purposes.
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