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All Italy Grotte di Labante

Grotte di Labante

South of Bologna, a limestone grotto with a protruding waterfall and a floor full of cave pearls.

Labante, Italy

Added By
Bruce Wayland
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Grotte di Labante   Aneta Malinowska / CC BY-SA 4.0
Grotte di Labante   Aneta Malinowska / CC BY-SA 4.0
Waterfall   Alicebrinis / CC BY-SA 4.0
Grotte di Labante   bfwayland / Atlas Obscura User
Grotte di Labante   bfwayland / Atlas Obscura User
Grotte di Labante   Alicebrinis / CC BY-SA 4.0
Grotte di Labante   bfwayland / Atlas Obscura User
Grotte di Labante   bfwayland / Atlas Obscura User
Grotte di Labante   bfwayland / Atlas Obscura User
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About

In the Apennine hills south of Bologna is the natural (if improbable) grotto called the Grotte di Labante. In the area nearby they used to quarry a type of sedimentary limestone called travertino, and the grotto is formed from this limestone.

A spring flows from the nearby Chiesa di San Cristofano through this cave system and gathers in a small, clear pool. That pool sits by one of the cave's two main entrances, which are linked by a relatively straight passage. A number of smaller side branches can be found winding through the travertine.The largest cavern features a high waterfall that sticks out the side of the rock like some kind of snout or trunk covered in moss and lush vegetation.

Sections of the floor of this cave are made up of cave pearls, small round pieces of limestone shaped into spheres by the flow of running water. 

Related Tags

Waterfalls Caves Grottoes

Know Before You Go

The Grotte di Labante is about an hour drive south of Bologna. There are places to picnic, so pack a lunch and make the drive into the countryside.

The Rocchetta Mattei is not far from here, and so if plans are made ahead (as one needs to reservation to get into the Rocchetta Mattei), it is possible to see both in one day.

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Community Contributors

Added By

bfwayland

Edited By

Michelle Cassidy

  • Michelle Cassidy

Published

October 6, 2022

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Sources
  • https://www.showcaves.com/english/it/caves/Labante.html
  • https://www.discoveraltorenoterme.it/the-caves-and-waterfall-of-labante/
  • https://www.bolognawelcome.com/en/places/parks-and-gardens/labante-caves
Grotte di Labante
Via Val D'Aneva
Labante, 40034
Italy
44.260361, 11.036081
Get Directions

Nearby Places

Chiesa di Santa Maria Assunta

Riola, Italy

miles away

Rocchetta Mattei

Riola, Italy

miles away

Faro di Gaggio Montano

Gaggio Montano, Italy

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Italy

Italy

Europe

Places 1,054
Stories 110

Nearby Places

Chiesa di Santa Maria Assunta

Riola, Italy

miles away

Rocchetta Mattei

Riola, Italy

miles away

Faro di Gaggio Montano

Gaggio Montano, Italy

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Italy

Italy

Europe

Places 1,054
Stories 110

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