Visiting time: 6/8 hours.
Distance from Riviera: da 74 a 83 Km.
Stalactites and stalagmites, lakes and alabaster offer an unforgettable show to the tourist, attracted by the fairy tale landscape of the "Grotta grande del Vento" ( Great Caves of the Wind) where million of crystals conjure up enchanting images.
The tour heads for the inland mountains. It's advisable to start the visit to the Frasassi caves and its countryside in the morning. Leaving the Riviera, we reach and follow the main SS 16 towards Pesaro; after 10 km about we take the main SS 76 towards Rome. Passing throughout the typical landscape of the Marche, tourists can admire homely rolling hills rising gradually towards the peaks of the Apennines. Then we turn off for Genga-Sassofferrato and follow the signs for Frasassi caves. The caves are easily reached by the A14 motorway, the SS 76 (Ancona-Roma), exit Genga Sassoferrato.
Leaving the car in the large parking-lot of San Vittore delle Chiuse, a ward of Genga, we walk up to the entrance of the Frasassi caves. The majestic cave system winds underground for almost 18 km; it is in the "Regional Park of Gola della Rossa and Frasassi". The park is a green oasis, rich of history and art.
The caves, discovered in 1971 and opened on 1974, have been visited by ten million tourist from all over the world. The visit to the caves lasts approximately one hour with free guides. The caves, a product of carsic phenomena, offer evocative scenographic effects and the walkways are smooth. The tourist can admire the impressive composition of stalagmites, fairy lake, labyrinths, windings with low ceiling and rich of different concretions. The different caves have been given fairy-tale like names such as Abyss Ancona, one of the biggest hollow in the world, Two Hundred Hall, the Grand Canyon, the White Hall, the Candles' Hall the Ursa Hall, the Never Ending Hall.
From the caves we go back to the parking lot. The Abbey of Saint Vittore, a nearby church, is perhaps the most important Romanesque building and Benedictine Monastery of the Marche. Then we can choose where to eat among the many restaurants offering traditional dishes. After lunch we drive up for 1,5 km to the the cave of the Sanctuary. Once we reach the parking-lot we go on walking towards the outstanding cave. In the wide mouth of a natural tunnel there are a Benedictine Monastery (Monastery of Infrasaxa) and the temple of Valadier. On the altar there is a venerated statue of the Virgin with the Infant Jesus, a copy of the original by Antonio Canova's school.
The Caves are open every day.You must present yourself at the ticket office 30 minutes before the booked admission.
From 10.00 am to 6.00 pm pm Last admission 6.00 pm.
Fixed summer admission times:
1 March - 31 October
Every day: 10:00 am - 11:00 am - 12:00 pm - 1:00 pm - 3:00 pm - 4:00 pm - 5:00 pm - 6:00 pm.
Extra guided tours are arranged depending on the flow.
August: all-day opening with admissions every 10 minutes.
Fixed winter admission times:
1 November - 28 February
From Monday to Friday: 2 admissions 11:00 am - 4:00 pm.
Saturday: 11:00 am - 12:30 pm - 3:00 pm - 4:30 pm.
Holidays: 9:30 am - 11:00 am - 12:30 pm - 3.00 pm - 4:30 pm -6:00 pm.
Christmas period: 9:30 am - 11:00 am - 12:30 pm - 3.00 pm - 4:30 pm -6:00 pm.
Extra guided tours are arranged depending on the flow.
Guided tours in
English - German - French
From 1st May to 30 October
Every day: 9:45 am - 11:15 am - 12:45 pm - 2:45 pm - 4:15 pm - 5:45 pm.
From 1st June to 30 September.
Bookings
Bookings for groups of at least 20 people can be made before 12:00 pm on the day before the visit by phoning the number 0732 90090 - 90080 or by E-mail: prenotazioni@frasassi.com.
Bookings for speleological visits must be made a week in advance.
Speleo - paleontological museum times
From Monday to Saturday: 10:00 am -1:00 pm; 2:30 pm - 6:30 pm.
On Sundays, holidays and in August: 8:30 am - 7:30 pm.
Caves and Museum closed on:
4 December, 25 December, 01 January and from 10 to 30 January inclusive.
Guided tour
Full 15 €
Reduced (people over 65, university students with card, speleologists, conventions) 13 €
Organised groups (minimum 20 people)
booking must be made before 12 pm on the previous day
One free entrance every 20 people 10 €
Children 6-14 years old 10 €
School groups (pupils and parents)
Teachers free entrance 9 €
Personalized guided tour
Entrance by reservation 50 € + ticket
Children under 6, Disabled servicemen and disabled workers: Free admission
Speleological visit
(The ticket includes a guided tour with all of the necessary equipment)
Blue trail (2 hours and 50 minutes) 35 €
Blue trail for schools 25 €
red trail (3 hours and 50 minutes) 45 €
Tickets include a guided tour of the caves, admission to the speleo-paleontological museum of San Vittore and transport to the caves by shuttle.
You must present yourself at the ticket office 30 minutes before the booked admission.Speleo-paleontological museum times: from Monday to Saturday: 10.00 am - 1.00 pm; 2.30 pm - 6.30 pm
On Sundays, holidays and in August: 8.30 am - 7.30 pm.
Caves and Museum closed on: 4 and 25 December - 1 January - from 10 to 30 January inclusive.
Consorzio Frasassi
60040 Genga (AN)
Tel. ++39.073297211
Fax ++39.0732972001
Information and booking
Tel. ++39.073290080 - 07329009 (anche fax)
E-mail grotte@frasassi.com
Web www.frasassi.com
