“Recca, Pr’rjèke” some locals call it. Here, at the Pozzo presso la Dolina dei Sette Nani legends murmur from deep within the earth. This place the Dolina dei Sette Nani translates to “Valley of the Seven Dwarfs”. Yet do not expect a Disneyesque scene of cheerful miners.
The Pozzo presso la Dolina dei Sette Nani offers a different kind of magic. It is a gateway to Trieste’s hidden underground. It is a place where the land breathes.
Let me paint you a picture of this secret the Pozzo presso la Dolina dei Sette Nani holds. Imagine autumn. Heavy rains have soaked the Karst region. In this valley near the Abisso di Trebiciano a transformation begins. The Pozzo presso la Dolina dei Sette Nani becomes a natural spectacle. Air rushes from the depths mixed with water bubbling from the ground. It is like a Karst hot air balloon preparing for flight.
For centuries locals near Trebiciano have known of this phenomenon. In the 1820s people dug here seeking a water source for Trieste. They were searching but they may not have understood the true nature of what lay beneath at the Pozzo presso la Dolina dei Sette Nani.
The Pozzo presso la Dolina dei Sette Nani itself is a cave of vertical descent. It is a series of wells formed by calcification. These wells lean slightly. Explorers had to excavate to pass the 20-meter mark. The cave then continues another 9.2 meters. At the bottom sits a niche complete with a delicate column.
The main entrance of Pozzo presso la Dolina dei Sette Nani is surrounded by small walls. It marks the start of a hidden world. The entrance sits thirty meters from a path. This path runs from the Centro di Sperimentazione Ipogea dell’Abisso di Trebiciano towards Fernetti. Look for a turnoff towards the Dolina dei 7 nani.
This cave system goes down to 158 meters. The cave extends for 266 meters in space. Its planimetric development measures 87 meters.
To truly witness the “suffio del fiume della notte” you need to choose the right day. November can be a good month.
The secret of the Pozzo presso la Dolina dei Sette Nani lies not just in its location. It is about understanding and experiencing this unique convergence of air and water. It is about connecting with the stories the land whispers. It is an adventure.