The Caves of Neptune

The spectacular Neptune Caves at Alghero

The Caves of Neptune at Alghero are spectacular karst formations dating back to prehistoric times. A local fisherman discovered them in the 18th century and since then they have been a major tourist attraction, as well as a major draw for cavers, who are the only ones able to access all the existing passages.

How to get there:

To visit them, you can descend the 645 steps that make up the Escala del Cabirol (the ‘roe deer staircase’), which winds its way up the Capo Caccia massif. The other option is to reach them by sea on boats departing from Alghero or Capo Caccia. Only a section of the caves – out of a total of 4 km – is open to the public.

Formations open to the public:

• Lake La Marmora: an underground salt lake, one of the largest salt lakes in Europe, which has a large columnar stalagmite at its centre known as the ‘Acquasantiera’ (holy water font) because it contains fresh water in the small basins situated at its summit
• The Hall of Ruins: its name derives from the damage caused by visitors in the 19th century
• The ‘Sala della Reggia’: featuring majestic calcite columns up to 18 metres high
• The Organ Chamber (or Smith Chamber, named after one of the first explorers): inside stands a column – the most majestic of all – whose stalactites resemble the pipes of an organ
• The Lace and Embroidery Chamber: a chamber made up of small columns
• The Music Gallery: a sort of balcony overlooking the Reggia and the lake

Find out here how to visit the Caves of Neptune

Photo by Danilo Carta from Pixabay What to see at Alghero and the surrounding area – A 6-stop itinerary