Beneath our feet lies a hidden world. It’s the Grotta a S di Gropada. This isn’t just any hole in the ground. It’s a gateway to the secrets of the Carso Triestino. The Grotta a S di Gropada is located near a sinkhole not far from the road. This road leads from Basovizza to Padriciano.
Imagine explorers discovering this entrance long ago. The Grotta a S di Gropada’s main entrance sits at 361 meters above sea level. Today, with GPS, we know its exact location. It is latitude 45.6504 and longitude 13.85114.
Now, let’s step inside the Grotta a S di Gropada. The cave features a well. It is almost 6 meters wide. You can descend without equipment. The well leads to a cavern. This cavern slopes gently. It stretches only a few meters. Concretions are absent from the cavern.
The Grotta a S di Gropada extends 12 meters horizontally. It reaches a depth of 10 meters. The bottom lies at 351 meters above sea level. The cave also appears in the Slovenian cadastre.
This cave shares a border. The entrance lies on the south side in Italian territory. The initial shaft has walls. They are covered in moss. Vegetation holds loose stones.
The bottom of the shaft forms a detrital slope. It leads to a vast cavern. Two large chimneys tower above. A natural bridge divides the space.
Climb easily over a calcitic flow. You’ll find a short gallery. It ends in a blind well. In 1977, a new small cave was discovered. It’s 7 meters long. Reach it by climbing 7.5 meters.
A window sits 23 meters from the bottom. A pendulum allows access. It leads to a 25-meter deep shaft.
The Grotta a S di Gropada may seem small. Yet, it connects us to the area’s geological history. It is a reminder that the earth holds wonders. These wonders wait to be explored.