Torri di Slivia Cave

The Torri di Slivia Cave has a total development of 554 meters and a vault with a maximum height of 55 meters.

A long internal staircase descends alongside the natural well and leads down to the heart of the cave. Along the way, it is enough to look around to feel in another dimension, in a space where shapes and colors depend on the dripping of water, and in an indefinite time, the result of a slow evolution. The walls and vault are covered with families of stalactites, curtains, tubulars and stone chandeliers, while the spectacular group of stalagmite towers – from which the cave takes its name – rises from the ground. Due to its particularity and variety of concretions, the Torri di Slivia Cave is considered among the most beautiful in the Trieste Karst.

The natural entrance opens at 114 meters above sea level. It is a large well with a stony bottom into which it is possible to descend only with speleological equipment. The first explorers entered from there, at the end of the Nineteenth Century. Today the cavity, which remained closed to the general public for over forty years, can be visited again and accessed from the artificial entrance which was created a few meters away from the well. Then, hidden from our eyes, it continues through bottlenecks and chimneys until it touches the base waters of the Karst, at a depth of 101 meters.

The guided tour of the Torri di Slivia Cave begins with a short, characteristic journey aboard the Agribus, which in a few minutes from the ticket office/farmhouse drives the visitors to the artificial entrance of the cavity. The complete tour lasts about 75 minutes.
The route includes the descent and ascent of 200 steps. The internal temperature varies according to the seasons from 3 to 9 °C – 37.4 to 48.2 °F and the humidity of the cave – over 90% – can make some sections of the route slippery. We, therefore, recommend that you bring a jacket and wear comfortable shoes with rubber soles.
The lighting, the ways of visiting and the flux of visitors are limited according to a series of provisions developed to protect the underground fauna and in particular the colony of bats that still live in the cave today.

The visits are all guided and with a fixed schedule. Reservations are not required for organized groups of less than 15 people. It will be enough to show up at the farmhouse at the established times. While for organized groups of more than 15 visitors booking is recommended.

Timetable 2016

March, April, May, June, September, October:
Saturdays, Sundays, and Holidays: 10.30 a.m., 2 p.m., and 3.30 p.m.
July and August:

Every day: 10.30 a.m., 12 a.m., 2 p.m., and 5.30 p.m.