Onferno caves

The karstic complex of Onferno is considered to be among the most important in Italy both because of the caves and the chalk. It unwinds beneath the castle and parish, and originates from the erosive action of a little underground torrent, which about fifty to one hundred thousand years ago excavated its course in the dephts of the great mass on which the "Castrum Inferni" rose. It is made of grey selenite chalk from the Inferior Messianic period (5-6 million years ago), transported to Onferno a long long time ago, during some movements of the Earth's crust. In this mass the ever active river has created deeply grooved meanders, great underground rooms and long pieces of hanging chalk, which stick out, in the vaults, in various shapes. Today only a small stream of the old river remains, which runs to the right and the left of the course, fed by two courses, which start in the sala of Mammelloni (the Knoll Room). The first naturalist who attempted scientific exploration of the caves was Ludovic Quarina in 1916.

A warning regards clothing: the cave has an average temperature of 12-14 degrees therefore we advise you to avoid too summery clothes and to take a light jacket with you, comfortable shoes too and rubber soles, considering that the course has been maintained as "natural" as possible and humidity often makes the route slippery.

Reservation recommended. 

Timetable 2020
Winter
from 1st January to 31st March: Sunday and public holidays, visits at 10.00 a.m., 11.30 a.m., 3.00 p.m. and 4.30 p.m.

Spring
from 1st April to 30th June: Saturday, visits at 3.00 p.m. and 4.30 p.m.; Sunday and public holiday, visits at 10.00 a.m., 11.30 a.m., 3.00 p.m. and 4.30 p.m.

Summer
from 1st to 31 July: Monday and Friday visits at 3.00 p.m. and 4.30 p.m.; Saturday, Sunday and public holidays visits at 10.00 a.m., 11.30 a.m., 3.00 p.m. and 4.30 p.m.
from 1st August to 11th September: Monday to Friday visits at 3.00 p.m. and 4.30 p.m.; Saturday, Sunday and public holidays visits at 10.00 a.m., 11.30 a.m., 3.00 p.m. and 4.30 p.m.

Autumn and winter (Visiting hours valid until 31 December)
Sunday and holidays visits at 10.00 a.m., 11.30 a.m., 3.00 p.m. and 4.30 p.m.
Extraordinary days:
- Wed 25/12 Christmas: CLOSED
- Thu 26/12 Saint Stephen: visits at 10.00 a.m., 11.30 a.m., 3.00 p.m. and 4.30 p.m.
- Tue 31/12 last day of the year: visits at 10.00 a.m., 11.30 a.m. and 3.00 p.m.

Access to the caves could be temporarily suspended during the year related to the protection of wildlife, maintenance or temporary unavailability of routes.

educational centre
meeting room with facilities
guide services

Not accessible to disabled guests.

how to get there:

by car:
from Rimini take provincial road: SP 31 to Coriano and then provincial road SP 18 to Gemmano

rates of entry include entrance to the Oriented Nature Reserve, Visitors’ Centre and Museum