Pertosa Caves

Grotte di Pertosa (Pertosa Caves)
Grotte di Pertosa-Auletta / Grotte dell'Angelo[1]
Entrance to the caves
Location of the caves in Italy
Location	Pertosa (SA, Campania, Italy)
Coordinates	40°32′12.98″N 15°27′19.84″E / 40.5369389°N 15.4555111°ECoordinates: 40°32′12.98″N 15°27′19.84″E / 40.5369389°N 15.4555111°E
Length	3,000 m
Altitude	263 m
Geology	Karst cave
Entrances	1
Access	Public
Show cave opened	1932
Show cave length	1,200 m[2]
Website	Official website

The Pertosa Caves (Italian: ''Grotte di Pertosa''), co-officially named Pertosa-Auletta Caves (Italian: ''Grotte di Pertosa-Auletta'')^[3] since 2012, are a karst show cave system located in the municipality of Pertosa, in the province of Salerno, Campania, Italy.

Overview

The caves, also named Grotte dell'Angelo as many Italian voids in honour of St. Michael, are extended also into the territories of Auletta and Polla.^[4][5]

They are situated by the eastern side of Alburni mountains, in the locality of Muraglione, 3 km (1.9 mi) in south of Pertosa and close to its railway station. Due to the presence of Tanagro river the caves are rich of water and, after the main entrance, there is an underground lake.

Gallery

• 

  The underground lake

• 

  Chapel to the Archangel Michael

• 

  Pertosa railway station, just at the top of the cave's hills

Cinema

The caves were the set of some scenes of 1998 Italian horror film "The Phantom of the Opera",^[6] directed by Dario Argento.

See also

• Castelcivita Caves
• List of caves
• List of caves in Italy

References

1. i.e: "Angel Caves"
2. (Italian) Infos on the official website
3. (Italian) Naming at official website
4. (Italian) National Geographic Portal of Italy: national map with municipal borders as of 2011
5. Map of Pertosa at OpenStreetMap showing municipal borders
6. Info on www.eofftv.com (see: Locations)

External links

• (Italian)/(English) Grotte di Pertosa-Auletta official site