Frasassi Caves
Introduction A column of stalactites and stalagmitesThe '''Frasassi Caves''' (Italian: '''''Grotte di Frasassi''''') are a  karst cave system in the municipality of Genga, Italy, in the province of Ancona, Marche. They are among the most famous show caves in Italy.
History The caves, discovered by a group of Ancona speleologists led by Giancarlo Cappanera on 25 September 1971, are situated  south of Genga, near the civil parish of San Vittore and the Genga-San Vittore railway station (Rome-Ancona line).Rich in water, the cave system is particularly well endowed with stalactites and stalagmites.Near the entrance to the caves are two sanctuary-chapels: one is the 1029 ''Santuario di Santa Maria infra Saxa'' (Sanctuary of Holy Mary under the Rock) and the second is an 1828 Neoclassical architecture formal temple, known as Tempietto del Valadier.
Chambers The Frasassi cave system includes a number of named chambers, including the following:* ''Grotta delle Nottole'', or "Cave of the Bats", named for the large colony of bats that lives within. * ''Grotta Grande del Vento'', or "Great Cave of the Wind", discovered in 1971, with approximately  of passageways. * ''Abisso Ancona'', or "Ancona Abyss", a huge space around 180 x 120 meters wide and near 200m tall. * ''Sala delle Candeline'', or "Room of the Candles", named for its plentiful stalagmites that resemble candles. * ''Sala dell'Infinito'', or "Room of the Infinite", a tall chamber with massive speleothem columns supporting the roof.file:Grotte di Frasassi - Canne d'Organo.jpg|"Organ pipes"file:Grotte di Frasassi - il Pozzo.jpg|Water well
Scientific experiments The cave has been used to conduct experiments in chronobiology. Among the cavers that have spent considerable amount of time inside the cave is the Italian sociologist Maurizio Montalbini, who died in 2009.
Sister caves Frasassi is partnered with several ''sister caves'' around the world:* Grand Roc (Les Eyzies —  Aquitaine, France)* Wieliczka Salt Mine (Wieliczka — Lesser Poland, Poland)* Kartchner Caverns State Park (Benson — Arizona, United States)
See also * List of caves* List of caves in Italy* Bochnia Salt Mine, southern Poland, central Europe* Wieliczka Salt Mine, near Kraków in Poland, central Europe* Khewra Salt Mine, in Punjab , Pakistan* Kartchner Caverns State Park in Arizona, the United States* Grand Roc in Savoie, France, southern Europe* Salt Cathedral of Zipaquirá, in Zipaquirá, Cundinamarca, Colombia, South America* Chełm Chalk Tunnels, Poland, central Europe
References
External links *  Grotte di Frasassi official site*  The story of the discovery of the Frasassi caves*  Frasassi Online