Grotta delle Meraviglie

The Grotta delle Meraviglie — Cave of Wonders — is a small but spectacular karst cave on the SS 18 coastal road south of Maratea. Discovered accidentally by road builders in 1929, it is one of the smallest publicly accessible caves in Italy, but the density and clarity of its limestone formations make it more memorable than many bigger sites. Guided tours run from spring through autumn and take about 20 minutes.

The cave is easily combined with a boat trip from Maratea harbour — many of the cruise itineraries include a stop here. By car, parking is along the coast road, with a short staircase down to the entrance. The cave is at constant 17°C year-round, so bring a layer in summer when it feels cool against the outside heat.

things to do sight
A story
The cave was discovered in 1929 by a road crew blasting the coastal highway. The dynamite charge opened a hidden chamber barely the size of a small room — visitors today see a single 200-square-metre hall with active limestone formations — but the proportions of stalactites and stalagmites are startling for so small a space. The cave is sometimes called Italy's smallest show cave.