The Stiffe Caves are located within the Sirente-Velino Park and can be defined as a “resurgence,” meaning a cavity from which a stream of water emerges. The underground river that accompanies visitors creates spectacular rapids and waterfalls within the cave. Leaving behind the summer heat, a journey back in time begins: the cave is alive, still forming, and reveals its secrets, showcasing millennia of artwork sculpted into the rock by water and time.
In winter, sheltered from the harsh external temperatures typical of the Aquila area in Abruzzo, the underground river provides a mesmerizing spectacle, creating extraordinary sound and visual effects: tumultuous and impetuous, the stream announces itself by leaping over rocks, breaking the hushed silence of the cave’s depths, reminding us that the Stiffe Caves are its creation. The torrent captivates us with the sight of water cascading in the grand and majestic waterfall room, evoking deep and unforgettable emotions.
The extension of the tourist route in August 2007 allowed access to a Second Waterfall, distinguished by the size of its chamber, which, although smaller than the First, accentuates the striking water flow that erupts from a height of 20 meters. On the right wall of the chamber, the three-colored flow appears to turn the beauty of the waterfall into stone, cascading down into the final small lake below.
