The Grotta della Zinzulusa is the most important cave in Salento, as well as being the most visited, with thousands of tourists deciding to embark on this wonderful experience every year. The Grotta della Zinzulusa is located along the south-east coast of Salento, specifically between the marina of Castro and Santa Cesarea Terme, and overlooks the Adriatic Sea. We are talking about one of the most fascinating stretches of coastline in Salento, here where the surrounding landscape blends with the beauty of nature trails, a crystal clear blue sea and a whole tourism organisation that has been tried and tested for years. These are the areas where the most renowned discos on the Salento coast are located, Castro is a shining gem set amidst these suggestive cliffs, and Santa Cesarea Terme is above all a destination for thermal tourism thanks to the chlorinated, sulphurous and iodine waters of the various springs in this area. We are therefore about to describe a stretch of coastline that has an almost magical and fairy-tale quality in revealing itself as an area undisputed for its beauty and charm; and the Grotta della Zinzulusa fits masterfully into this context, representing one of the most famous anchialine (i.e., near the sea) caves in southern Italy. The cave"s formation by sea erosion can be traced back to the Pliocene period, and its discovery dates back to 1793, although the first studies began in the 1950s with the cave opening to the public in 1957. Already from its entrance, the Grotta della Zinzulusa shows the presence of stalactites and stalagmites, and it is to this characteristic that it owes its name, from the local dialect zinzuli meaning rags, and the whole environment looks like rags hanging from the walls. The Grotta della Zinzulusa is a true miracle of nature, which over the centuries has been able to give life to a rock formation of such beauty; words are wasted and do not convey the idea of the magnificence of this cave, the only valid alternative is to visit it in person and be attracted and engulfed by the emotions that the Grotta della Zinzulusa is able to give. The visit to the cave lasts about thirty minutes for a distance of about 150 metres. The ticket costs 6 euro for adults and 3 euro for children over 11 years old. The cave can also be reached by boat with various organised excursions. Have fun and a happy summer at the Zinzulusa Cave.
Last update: 08/12/2022, Tonio Viva
