22Feb2022
After meeting at the adjacent sports field, wearing overalls and helmet, we walked a short stretch in the Triestine Karst, alongside the railway line, up to the entrance of the cave. After a brief introduction we discovered the history of the creation of the cave, its discovery and composition, and the findings made in it: fragments and ceramics ranging from the Neolithic to the Roman periods.
The Open Days are organised by the Gruppo Speleologico San Giusto di Trieste, active since 1954, which develops a concept of speleology as a true philosophy of life, combining exploration, dissemination, scientific activity, but above all education, with a special attention for the new generations; it is from here that we need to start according to the president of the Group, Mauro Kraus, enabling young people to discover the value of exploration, of the difficulty in reaching a goal, of respect and sharing. The Group also devotes itself to environmental education and organises introductory courses to speleology; research campaigns, moreover, find expression in the numerous photographic exhibitions organised by the Group.
The excursion into the Valentina Cave begins in a small entrance cave that continues with a tunnel, which gradually widens slightly as it slopes down; the floor of the tunnel is covered with clay, which has settled over time covering part of the cavities. Like true explorers, we go further into the cave, coming across corrosion and domes along the way. The view is incredible, dark ochre stalactites and mighty stalagmites.
Passing through another narrow space, the great hall opens up before us, wide and bright thanks to its splendid crystalline growths with iridescent colours, while using the metal stairs you can reach the side rooms of the cave which have been carved by water. In the evocative view illuminated by artificial light we can distinguish the colonnades and the calcite flows, that the water is cleaning of sediment.
This is an incredible and unique experience that deserves to be lived, to do something different and discover the natural beauties of the underground world and caves.
The free tours are organised by the Gruppo Speleologico San Giusto di Trieste with the collaboration of the adjacent Sports Field of Visogliano and the permission of the owners of the land where the cave is located.
Find out about the ideas and offers for this experience in Friuli Venezia Giulia
Leonardo Portelli
Enrico Cappellaro
Andrej Bandelj
