The Wind Cave

The Wind Cave lies in the middle of one of the most picturesque areas of the Parco Naturale delle Alpi Apuane (the National Park of Alpi Apuane), whose uneven orographic structure was shaped by the harshness of the weather agents. Deep valleys, wide rock faces, vast calcareous areas, shaped by the erosion and soaring peaks, from which we can enjoy boundless views, are the typical nature features of this land

Smoothes paths inside the cave allows us to visit and admire all the wonderful treasures of this underworld: sharp and bright stalactites and stalagmites and polychromatic sheets of hardened calcareous water, alabaster faces, which look like drapes, little lakes with crystals, underground streams and strange forms, shaped by the erosion.
There are three different routes to follow: the "first" one (an hour-lasting), is on a level ground and allows us to visit the wonderful calcareous concretions; through the "second" one (two hours-lasting), which includes also the "first" route, we discover the charm of a mysterious underground river, which runs through big spaces with smooth rock walls.

The third route (three-hours lasting) enables us to visit the whole cave and is highly smooth and safe also in the dizzy ways through, hanging in mid-air over a bottomless-looking chasm. Underground the average temperature is +10,7° C.
The cave is therefore a place where the temperature is mild either during the stifling summer days or in the short winter rigours. The cave is also sheltered from the bad weather and it is therefore possible to visit this beautiful underworld even if outside it's rainy, snowy or windy.

If we are lucky, we can also enjoy the sight of the swollen underground rivers with their wonderful waterfalls. The range of different routes, the extraordinary length of the "third" route and the many well-working outer facilities give us the chance to spend a wonderful day in the nature, even when there are bad weather conditions outside. The Wind Cave is all-year-round open.

  The Wind Cave, drapes-looking figures, stalagmites, and sheet of hardened calcareous water in the "Sala del Ciondolo"

In the modern building for tourists reception, we can find a ticket counter, a well-stocked snack bar, a big shop, selling minerals and fossils from all parts of the world, and a tourist information office.
To reach the Wind Cave coming from Lucca, we have to go up the valley of Serchio following the provincial road called "Ludovica". Once we have gone beyond the little towns of Diecimo and Borgo a Mozzano and arrived in Gallicano, we take the road, which leads to Fornovolasco and to the wide car park, running along the rocky gorge where the Lake of Trombacco lies.