Hidden World | Castellana di Grotte, Italy
My mind drifted to morbid thoughts of seeing my own death before my eyes
While this place is no secret, Castellana is home to an expansive hidden world under the earth. Dating back to the Upper Cretaceous period, around 90 million years ago. Here lies a vast amount of layering showcasing the history of time and life that has passed through these caves. Once submerged by an ancient sea, colonies of shellfish and marine plants have left their mark on the sea floor and have helped shaped the gigantic mud and sand deposits.
What the visitor can see today, is the beautification of the caves. This stage began around 2.5 million years ago when the slow infiltration of storm water began to form tiny crystals, making up the overall growth of the stalactites and stalagmites. These stalactites and stalagmites fill the entire cave with an intricacy that can only be formed by nature. I have ever quite experienced a place like this before.
Upon entering the caves, we walked down a long tunnel of stairs. Quickly descending deep into the earth. At the base of the stairway, we are immediately greeted by the cold, damp air. We stand in the large cave with the last visibility of the outside world. Light pouring through the ceiling in a concentrated beam of light, illuminating the world we are about to enter.
From this point forward, photos are not allowed. As I debated about sneaking a few shots here and there, I decided to leave this experience only in my memory. As we moved through the caves, each room expanding and contracting with every crevasse, my mind was wandering. Observing all the surrounding formations. Each section of the multiple caves took on a different style, color, and feeling. Whether walking through the compact pathways, ducking under the sharply pointed stalactites or gazing up at the expansive, unreachable vaulted ceilings... I couldn't help but feel so powerless.
Being so deep into the earth, walking further and further from the single point of entry... My mind drifted to morbid thoughts of seeing my own death before my eyes. Crowds of people on guided tours, shuffling pass each other at single points where the path permits. Understanding the complexity of the earth and the slightest tremor could send one of these stalactites downward, piercing the bystander. As we paused to listen to the tour guide, I carefully positioned myself away from standing directly under a massive sword.
After some time passed, thankfully, I soon overcame my paranoia and could enjoy the beauty of the cave and it's entirety. The caves seemed alive. Trickling with water, the wet air, the formations resembling creatures. Looking all around I could see faces in the deposits. Eyes, fangs, bodies. It became a story that was speaking to me. It's as if we were challenged to get passed the guards, to make it to the end, the prize, the White Cave.
The White Cave. I have never seen such a pure beauty. An untouched cavern. Every formation a reflective and almost translucent white. Formations elegantly hanging from the ceiling, some touching with the ground below. A vertical web. Complex structures formed by simple drops. The ah-ha moment. The point of absolute.
