Toirano's Cave

The Toirano Cave Complex is one of the major tourist attractions in Liguria, consisting of the natural cavities of Basura and S. Lucia Inferiore. The Grotta della Basura (meaning “Witch” in Italian), discovered in 1950, is notable for its significant archaeological finds. The bones of Ursus spelaeus, which are characteristic of the Pleistocene fauna and inhabited the cave during their winter hibernation, can still be seen in the “Cemetery of Bears” (approximately 30,000 years old). There are also traces of Homo sapiens dating back about 12,000 years, consisting of hand, foot, and knee prints; in the Sala dei Misteri (Hall of Mysteries), recently reopened to the public, these marks are believed to have held ritual significance.

The cave’s chambers are characterized by a variety of typical stalactites and stalagmites, differing in shape and size, as well as by unique “mammillary” formations. The terminal section of the cave, once submerged, is particularly striking, showcasing unusually round formations entirely covered by a uniform layer of light yellow, composed of tiny calcite crystals.

In the Grotta di S. Lucia Inferiore, discovered in 1960, the limestone formations and the walls of the spacious chambers are adorned with calcite flowers and very fine aragonite crystals. The two caves, connected by an artificial tunnel, are approximately 1,300 meters long and can be visited in 70 minutes.