Grotta del Re Tiberio
The cave of King Tiberius is undoubtedly the best known and celebrated cave in the Parco del Vena del Gesso Romagnola due to the presence of archaeological evidence attesting to presence of man extended for several millennia.
The cave is reachable by a narrow and in some points steep panoramic path, which climbs up the side of the gypsum wall, and is connected to a mining site. During the climb, just before reaching the entrance to the cave, you can see the entrance to a quarry tunnel, one of many excavated in the ’60s and’ 70s. In fact, inside Monte Tondo there is a network of artificial tunnels stretching over 20 kilometers.
From the entrance hall of the cave, suggested by the presence of numerous artificial niches, we find “seats” and drinking troughs carved out of the rock. From here, the viewer will have a unique view of the valley and the Borgo Rivola.
The cave, which is more than four kilometers long, can easily be explored on foot, with normal clothes, for a stretch of about sixty meters to the Gothic Hall. Further along it is necessary to have speleological equipment to continue (it is always necessary the permission of the company that owns the quarry), as the lower sections of the cave are very demanding due to the presence of wells and bottlenecks.
Given its archaeological and naturalistic importance, it can only be visited by appointment and accompanied by one of the expert Speleological Guides Parco Regionale della Vena del Gesso Romagnola.
