Visitors can experience the thrill of a hidden and beautiful upside down world, made of breath-taking scenery, rich in extraordinary concretions, where the silence is broken only by the dripping of the drops of water that bring the constantly changing complex to life.

There are two adventure trails – the blue trail (for those over the age of 12) and the red trail – which allow small guided groups to pass through underground passages, narrow pathways and shafts and admire splendid rooms concealed from the gaze of “normal” tourists.

The basic admission is 15,50Eur / person.

View Grotte di Frasassi – one of the most spectacular Karst complexes in the world – Italy in a larger map

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Bologna, Italy by Roberto Taddeo

The area where Bologna sits today has been inhabited since the 9th century B.C. In the 19th century, a number of archeological digs were undergone which uncovered evidence of settlements in the area. In these earliest days, the city of Bologna was known by the name of Villanova. With the rise of the Etruscan Empire, the city’s name would be changed to Felsina and then finally Bona during the reign of the Celts.

During the middle ages, the city of Bologna was considered to be the fifth largest city in the whole of Europe. It is also the home to the University of Bologna which is considered to be the oldest university in the entire world; having been founded back in 1088.

There are many towers located throughout the city and the historical center of town is one of the largest and most well-preserved in the country. As a result of the damaged caused by numerous wars, a huge movement in the 1970s led to the slow but meticulous restoration of the town’s oldest monuments.

Two towers of Bologna, Italy by Luca Volpi

There are many beautiful monuments, structures and churches which can be found throughout the city of Bologna. Many of these can be dated back to well before the 10th and 11th centuries. Every year, millions of visitors make their way to Bologna to see the amazing culture and heritage that this ancient city has to offer.

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