Peering into the abyss, do you dare to imagine the secrets held within the Grotta dell’Autunno? This isn’t just any cave. It’s a journey into the depths of the earth. It is a testament to the patient work of water on limestone.
Welcome to the Grotta dell’Autunno. This natural wonder lies in the Carso Triestino near Sgonico. The cave’s main name is Grotta dell’Autunno. Its catalogue number is 4298. It has been officially catalogued under the local number 5378VG.
The Grotta dell’Autunno features two entrances. Let’s talk about them. The main entrance is a vertical shaft. It measures approximately 0.4 by 1.8 meters. A 10-meter drop greets you as you enter. The second entrance is also vertical. It is a smaller shaft only 0.5 by 0.2 meters. This one has a shallower drop of about 2 meters. Both entrances are freely accessible. However, caution is advised due to the risk of falling.
The Grotta dell’Autunno extends 121 meters horizontally. Its depth reaches 69 meters. The bottom lies 136.7 meters above sea level. This cave presents a mix of vertical and horizontal passages.
The entrance to Grotta dell’Autunno lies in a sinkhole. This sinkhole sits on the northern slope of the highway. It is near the path to Grotta Nuova east of Santa Croce.
Inside the Grotta dell’Autunno, a small sink leads to a low opening. This opens into a 25-meter shaft named P25. A gallery extends from its base. This gallery has a couple of small drops. It stretches east-northeast to a small cave rich with concretions. From here, a short climb leads to a passage. This passage is also full of concretions. After a few meters, it opens onto a well. This well ends in a large descending cave. It runs northeast.
From the small cave, you can descend further. A series of narrow shafts marked by dripping water lead to the deepest point. Impassable fissures block any further progress. Near the base of P25, a narrow passage leads to a series of drops. These drops ultimately return to the lowest point.
The Gruppo Speleologico San Giusto tagged the Grotta dell’Autunno. They affixed tag 4298 on December 23, 2017. The cave’s location was updated using GPS. Coordinates are accurate to within 2.1 meters. The altitude at the main entrance measures 203 meters above sea level. Luciano Perini from GSSG updated the location.
Explorers Pino Guidi, Natale Bone, Roberto Prelli and Glauco Savi surveyed the cave. They were from the Commissione Grotte Eugenio Boegan CGEB in Trieste. They created a map showing both plan and section views on October 31, 1986.
Grotta dell’Autunno is not a tourist cave. It is a fascinating example of the subterranean world. It beckons adventurers and explorers to discover its hidden beauty.