Grotte di San Giovanni: The Cave with a Road Inside
Located in Domusnovas, Sardinia, Grotta San Giovanni is a cave with a road running through it. It was the only cave in Italy that allowed vehicle passage before being closed to traffic. Now, visitors can walk along the road inside the cave. It’s one of the few roads in the world that runs through a cave.
Where is San Giovanni Cave?
The cave is located in Domusnovas, a town in South Sardinia, Italy. It lies near Monte Acqua and Punta San Michele and can be reached by following the provincial road along the San Giovanni River.
How Long is San Giovanni Cave?
The main branch of the cave is 850 meters long, making it one of the longest traversable caves in the world. Including the upper levels, accessible only to experts, the total cave system is about 2,000 meters. This cavern was carved by the waters of the Rio de Monte Narba (later Rio San Giovanni) in the oldest limestone rocks on the island, belonging to the Lower Cambrian.
When and Why Was the Road Built?
In the 19th century, a road was built through the cave to transport materials from the nearby Sa Duchessa Mine. The construction of the road, with material partially obtained from the walls and the chapel, began in 1866 by Count Pietro Beltrami and was later completed by Knight Gaetano Semenza to create a road between the village of Domusnovas and the Valley of Oridda, as it housed many mining activities. This road was intended to facilitate the downstream transport of minerals.
Is the road through San Giovanni Cave open to vehicles?
The road remained open to vehicles until environmental concerns led to its closure around 1980’s. Today, the fully paved road is open for pedestrians only. It’s said to be the longest carriage cave in the world.
Pic: Glück Auf