“Private property! No entry!” Imagine ignoring that sign to find the Grotta della Plorda. Today, we’re not ignoring it. Let’s explore this hidden cave with our imaginations. The Grotta della Plorda is a fascinating example of Trieste’s many subterranean wonders.
To find the cave you would take the state road. This road leads from Basovizza towards the border of Pese. About one kilometer past the former toll house you would find a large clearing on the left. You would walk across it to a sign prohibiting access. Then continue left to a small building. The cave entrance lies just behind this building. It is within a shallow sinkhole with unstable edges. A fence surrounds it. But wait. A note from August 2002 says the cave is on private property. It belongs to a farm.
The entrance to Grotta della Plorda is a pit. It opens into red soil. Inside the pit leads to a base of liquid clay. There is a narrow horizontal passage to the left. This opens into a large room. The floor is covered with large blocks from a collapse. At the end of this room, the entrance to P14 is located. It’s another collapsed opening. To descend you must traverse a couple of meters at the top. At the base, a low sloping slide leads directly into P27. This section has many parallel windows and jumps. They reconnect at the bottom. From here, a series of short vertical drops. These drops are set on fractures. They lead to two distinct bottoms. Some impassable cracks might lead to further extensions.
While this cave may not be the largest in the area, it offers a glimpse into the geological processes. These processes shaped the Carso region over millions of years. Imagine the water seeping through the limestone. It slowly dissolved the rock. This created the Grotta della Plorda. It is just one of many caves.
Remember the warning about unstable materials when thinking about exploring this and other caves. The Grotta della Plorda and similar caves are a fragile environment. They require respect and care. Caves are a link to the past. They are a reminder of the power of nature. They offer a unique perspective on the world beneath our feet. Whether you are an experienced speleologist or an armchair traveler, the Grotta della Plorda invites you to discover its secrets. It invites you to appreciate the hidden wonders. These wonders lie just beneath the surface of Trieste.