GROTTA NUOVA OF VILLANOVA – THE LONGEST CONTACT CAVE IN EUROPE Villanova delle Grotte nestless in the wonderful Alta Val Torre (Lusevera) scenery, a little corner of paradise less than 30 km from Udine and hides a jewel of rare beauty and spectacularity: the karst complex of the Villanova Caves; The main caves have a total development of over 30 km. Among them, the Grotta Nuova is also the most important tourism resource of the Alta Val Torre. It was discovered in 1925 by some of the villagers who founded the Gruppo Esploratori e Lavoratori Grotte di Villanova, a non-profit association that is still free of charge for its management and enhancement. The Grotta Nuova is a “contact cave”, patiently eroded by water between two different types of rock: a calcareous rock as “top roof” of the cave, and the Flysch rock below, made of marl (clay) and sandstone strata and almost impermeable. It is the longest “contact cave” in Europe and the only one of its kind providing a tourist facility. The cave formed through two different karstic processes: a slow chemical corrosion of the limestone, and a faster mechanical erosion of the Flysch rock. Both these processes have created very different cave sizes and shapes in close proximity: tortuous canyons and halls with concretions in the calcareous rock, wide tunnels and great halls in the Flysch rock. The internal river is the result of numberless underground and external water springs. It flows through the main body of the cave as far as the “Syphons”, then it disappears. The Grotta Nuova is also a small part of the history of our planet. It preserves important traces of events which occurred in the past that are useful for geological and seismological studies. In the “Catedral Hall”, which is closed to the public, have been installed very sensitive monitoring systems connected to the regional seismometric network. TOURIST WALKWAY Length: about 700 m Maximum depth: 110 m Approximate number of steps: 500 Duration of the guided tour: about 1h 20’ Temperature: constant 11° all year long Humidity: 98% Highlights during the visit: the Lake Hall, the Landslide Hall, Crystal Corner, the Great Door Hall, the Great Altar, the Big Rock. Beside the tourist walkway we can find a full-size model of the “Ursus Spelaeus”, the big cave bear. From 2010 to 2014 the new tourist walkway was constructed. The cave, beyond the “Great Door”, was provided with innovative technology. The new electrical led lighting system allows us to appreciate the beauties of the cave even more, respecting their delicate balance. Our steps lead us now to new wide tunnels adorned with magnificent calcite flowstones, white stalactites and rocks shaped as sculptures. At the bottom of the new tourist walkway a tortuous natural channel is lit up and seems to indicate the way forward to a still unrevealed darkness. The Grotta Nuova is also a perfect place to find yourself balance and refill with new energies through different meditation techniques. OPENING TIMES MARCH/APRIL - Sunday and Holiday: 10.00 - 12.00 and 13.30 - 18.00* MAY/JUNE - Saturday and Sunday: 10.00 - 12.00 and 13.30 - 18.00* JULY - From Monday to Saturday: 10.00 - 12.00 and 13.30 - 18.00 *, Sunday: 10.00 - 18.00* AUGUST - All days: 10.00 - 18.00* SEPTEMBER - Saturday and Sunday: 10.00 - 12.00 and 13.30 - 18.00* OCTOBER/NOVEMBER - Sunday and Holiday: 10.00 - 12.00 and 13.30 - 16.30 *Last visit at 17.30 pm. Possible waiting time before the visit starts. Opening times may change. Out of ordinary time visits are available only with previous booking for groups (min. 15 people), for schools and youth centers. FOR INFORMATION AND BOOKING CONTACT: Gruppo Esploratori e Lavoratori Grotte di Villanova Fraz. Villanova delle Grotte, 3 – 33010 Lusevera (UD) - Italy Phone + 39 0432 787915 - Mobile +39 392 1306550 Web site: www.grottedivillanova.it E-mail: info@grottedivillanova.it To follow all news and events, see your pictures and write your opinion, visit our Facebook page “Grotte di Villanova”.