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DOCUMENT CENTER
You arrive at the Equi caves from Equi Terme, an old spa village in the Apuan Alps. Inside the park, you can enter one of the three caves - la Buca, le Grotte or la Tecchia; or follow the Solco di Equi trail along a natural canyon with insect-eating plants, to find a small burial cave called Tana della Volpe, or the fox’s den. Alternatively, visitors can step back in time by visiting the reconstruction, inside the archaeological park, of everyday prehistoric life and find out what life was like for our ancient forefathers. In addition, it is also possible to take part in experimental archaeological activities.
Buca and Grotte di Equi
The itinerary starts at the Buca or hole, which was already known in the 1700s. The path leads up to a terrace overlooking a vertical drop cleaved into the mountain, where various species of birds, including the golden eagle, build their nests. Then it continues into a labyrinth of rooms, galleries and passageways with fossil formations.
From the Buca you can access a cavity that is still in formation, le Grotte, or the caves, adorned with stalactites, stalagmites and all sorts of natural formations. There is also a “potholing part”, currently not open to the public, rich in karstic elements.
Only animal remains, and no human traces, have been found inside the cave, as they have probably been taken away by the waters of the underground springs.
At present, the internal walkway that links the Grotte to the Tecchia is currently being completed. The outside path is steep with a vertical drop into the Fagli brook. It is dangerous and we recommend that you do not follow it.
Tecchia di Equi
An ancient shelter for men and animals: objects and animal remains tell the story of this cave, which started 40,000 years ago and continued until the Middle Ages. Archaeological research at the beginning of the 1900s brought to light stone and bone objects that belonged to Neanderthal hunters and not just skeletons of wolves, foxes and marmots, but also of animals that are not to be found in the area’s fauna today, such as the ursus speleus (cave bear), lion and leopard. Instead, evidence of funeral rites and burials from the Copper Age tell us that the cave was used later as a burial ground.
Opening times:
From July to September: Saturday and Sunday 10.30am-7.00pm; from Monday to Friday 10.30am-12.30pm and 2.30pm-7.00pm. Open at night on the days around 15th August.
The caves are open in May and June, but we recommend that you phone the Comune di Fivizzano tourist office for information on opening times.
The caves can be visited from October to April, but only upon reservation.
Tour routes:
There are three easy trails:
Route 1 “Buca”: 20-25 min, 500 m;
Route 2 “Grotte”: 45-50 min, 1300 m;
Route 3 “Tecchia”: opening soon.
Ticket prices:
Route 1 full price € 5.00; reductions € 2.50
Route 2 full price € 8.50; reductions € 4.50
How to get there:
By car
- From Aulla and Fivizzano: take the “del Cerreto” SS 63 road, at Cormezzano follow the Garfagnana SR 445 road to Gragnola, then carry on towards Equi Terme.
- A15 Parma-La Spezia motorway, Aulla exit, then take the “del Cerreto” SS 63 road, at Cormezzano follow the Garfagnana SR 445 road to Gragnola, then carry on towards Equi Terme.
- From Castelnuovo di Garfagnana: SR 445 road (for around 42 km), then turn left onto the SP 10 road in the direction of Equi Terme.
By train
- Equi Terme railway station, Aulla-Lucca line.
By bus
- Massa Carrara CAT bus service, Aulla - Fivizzano, route no. 33, 10 trips per day.
The Surrounding Area
Centro di educazione ambientale, environment education centre in Vinca (MS); Centro per la conservazione della biodiversità, biodiversity conservation centre in Frignoli di Sassalbo (MS); Codiponte Romanesque parochial churches (MS), Casola Lunigiana (MS), parochial church of San Lorenzo, Minucciano (LU); the Equi spas (MS); Museo delle Stele stone steles museum in Piagnaro castle, Pontremoli (MS).
Info
Centro servizi turistici del Comune di Fivizzano
Tel. +39 0585 927111-948258-948269
www.comunefivizzano.it
info@comune.fivizzano.ms.it
Apt Massa Carrara (Tourist Office)
Tel. +39 0585 240063
Fax +39 0585 869015
www.aptmassacarrara.it
info@aptmassacarrara.it
Parco Regionale delle Alpi Apuane
Tel. +39 0584 775821
Fax +39 0584 758203
www.parcapuane.it
info@parcapuane.it
Buca and Grotte di Equi
The itinerary starts at the Buca or hole, which was already known in the 1700s. The path leads up to a terrace overlooking a vertical drop cleaved into the mountain, where various species of birds, including the golden eagle, build their nests. Then it continues into a labyrinth of rooms, galleries and passageways with fossil formations.
From the Buca you can access a cavity that is still in formation, le Grotte, or the caves, adorned with stalactites, stalagmites and all sorts of natural formations. There is also a “potholing part”, currently not open to the public, rich in karstic elements.
Only animal remains, and no human traces, have been found inside the cave, as they have probably been taken away by the waters of the underground springs.
At present, the internal walkway that links the Grotte to the Tecchia is currently being completed. The outside path is steep with a vertical drop into the Fagli brook. It is dangerous and we recommend that you do not follow it.
Tecchia di Equi
An ancient shelter for men and animals: objects and animal remains tell the story of this cave, which started 40,000 years ago and continued until the Middle Ages. Archaeological research at the beginning of the 1900s brought to light stone and bone objects that belonged to Neanderthal hunters and not just skeletons of wolves, foxes and marmots, but also of animals that are not to be found in the area’s fauna today, such as the ursus speleus (cave bear), lion and leopard. Instead, evidence of funeral rites and burials from the Copper Age tell us that the cave was used later as a burial ground.
Opening times:
From July to September: Saturday and Sunday 10.30am-7.00pm; from Monday to Friday 10.30am-12.30pm and 2.30pm-7.00pm. Open at night on the days around 15th August.
The caves are open in May and June, but we recommend that you phone the Comune di Fivizzano tourist office for information on opening times.
The caves can be visited from October to April, but only upon reservation.
Tour routes:
There are three easy trails:
Route 1 “Buca”: 20-25 min, 500 m;
Route 2 “Grotte”: 45-50 min, 1300 m;
Route 3 “Tecchia”: opening soon.
Ticket prices:
Route 1 full price € 5.00; reductions € 2.50
Route 2 full price € 8.50; reductions € 4.50
How to get there:
By car
- From Aulla and Fivizzano: take the “del Cerreto” SS 63 road, at Cormezzano follow the Garfagnana SR 445 road to Gragnola, then carry on towards Equi Terme.
- A15 Parma-La Spezia motorway, Aulla exit, then take the “del Cerreto” SS 63 road, at Cormezzano follow the Garfagnana SR 445 road to Gragnola, then carry on towards Equi Terme.
- From Castelnuovo di Garfagnana: SR 445 road (for around 42 km), then turn left onto the SP 10 road in the direction of Equi Terme.
By train
- Equi Terme railway station, Aulla-Lucca line.
By bus
- Massa Carrara CAT bus service, Aulla - Fivizzano, route no. 33, 10 trips per day.
The Surrounding Area
Centro di educazione ambientale, environment education centre in Vinca (MS); Centro per la conservazione della biodiversità, biodiversity conservation centre in Frignoli di Sassalbo (MS); Codiponte Romanesque parochial churches (MS), Casola Lunigiana (MS), parochial church of San Lorenzo, Minucciano (LU); the Equi spas (MS); Museo delle Stele stone steles museum in Piagnaro castle, Pontremoli (MS).
Info
Centro servizi turistici del Comune di Fivizzano
Tel. +39 0585 927111-948258-948269
www.comunefivizzano.it
info@comune.fivizzano.ms.it
Apt Massa Carrara (Tourist Office)
Tel. +39 0585 240063
Fax +39 0585 869015
www.aptmassacarrara.it
info@aptmassacarrara.it
Parco Regionale delle Alpi Apuane
Tel. +39 0584 775821
Fax +39 0584 758203
www.parcapuane.it
info@parcapuane.it
