“A notable air current suggested more than meets the eye.” That’s how the story of Grotta a S del Monte dei Pini begins. Here we stand before its entrance. The Grotta a S del Monte dei Pini is a fascinating cave. It is located on Monte dei Pini. The cave’s entrance sits at 440 meters above sea level. This places it in the Carso Triestino area near Trieste.
To reach Grotta a S del Monte dei Pini, walk from the Gropada pond. Take the cart track that branches off to the right. This is about 15 meters after the pond. Keep right at the next fork too. Go around a large sinkhole. Ascend while following the path. When you reach a flat area, continue east-northeast. Follow faint path traces to a large sinkhole. This sinkhole has a high overhanging wall. The Grotta a S del Monte dei Pini opens at the sinkhole’s deepest point.
The Grotta a S del Monte dei Pini features a descending tunnel. This tunnel was created through hard excavation work. This work was prompted by a notable air current. The tunnel leads to a large cavern. The cavern is partly covered in concretions. Its main axis runs north-south. The clay bottom features a meander-shaped groove. A small stream carved this groove. The stream flows through the cave after heavy rains. It disappears under the back wall.
On the east wall, six meters high, a narrow tunnel opens. This tunnel is about ten meters long. Its end was made accessible by forcing two narrow passages. In 1992, a dig in the rock face occurred in this tunnel. This allowed access to a narrow drop of 1.5 meters. A slide follows, leading to a small, well-concretioned cave. This marks the end of the Grotta a S del Monte dei Pini. The origin of the weak outgoing air current remains unknown.
Both in the landslide where the access tunnel was opened and in various parts of the cavern, bone remains have been discovered. These remains include those of cattle and micromammals mixed with fragments of charred wood. The Grotta a S del Monte dei Pini extends 68 meters. It reaches a depth of 30 meters. The bottom is at 410 meters above sea level. So the Grotta a S del Monte dei Pini is a small cave, but full of unique features.