Hidden down below wild olive trees, evergreen bushes and strawberry trees on a secluded, rocky edge of eastern Peloponnese, lies one of Greece’s best-kept underground secrets: Kastania Cave, a three-million-year old geological wonder with an unparalleled decor of stalactite formations that have turned the cave into a real-life sculpture of nature.
Situated a few kilometers away from the seaside town of Neapoli, in the region of Laconia, Kastania Cave boasts some of the rarest and most breathtaking stalactites (which grow from the roof down) and stalagmites (growing from the floor up) nature has ever formed, ranking it as second best of its kind in Europe.
On a rainy December morning, Greek Reporter joined a small group of tourists and, along with the cave’s guide, gradually descended 30 meters underground to witness this magic of nature. The cave’s surface covers 1,500 square meters, separated into two levels. Visitors walk through a 500-meter route with 240 steps, from which they can observe the cave’s formations from the ceiling to its bottom.
Inside the breathtaking Cave of Kastania
Inside the cave there’s a steady temperature of about 18 degrees Celsius all year round, while the special lighting that has been installed helps prevent the growth of algae that damage stalactites and other formations. The Cave of Kastania is still active, meaning that after millions of years, stalactites are still seen dripping with water which continues to shape these beautiful structures. It takes about 100 years for one single centimeter of stalactite to form.
As visitors walk along the route, the guide points to colorful “waterfall curtains,” “sheets” that overflow from the roof like waxwork, “octopuses,” see-through stalagmite columns, “an elephant,” and even “sunny side-up eggs.” Many visitors let their imagination go wild and near the formations that have already been given unofficial names, they start seeing “statues,” “birds,” and other imaginary creatures. Visitors also walk by sparkling-white, glittering columns (which are formed when a stalactite and stalagmite end up connecting). Their brilliant colour is a result of the presence of salt.
With a little bit of luck, visitors may also be able to spot the cave’s sole resident, a deaf and blind cave insect called “dolichopoda.”
The cave was formed from limestone of the Jurassic Age (195-145 million years ago) as a result of geological turmoil and chemical reactions. The seven-color palette, including green, purple and red, seen throughout the cave, is due to crystalline carbonate lime enriched with several metal oxides.
As with all underground caves, because of safety concerns, the tour at Kastania is short—it lasts for about 40 minutes. After tourimg the cave visitors end up at the entrance six meters below ground, which also serves as the exit. Here some original documents relating to the cave’s discovery are displayed on the wall.
The unique story behind the discovery of Kastania Cave
It was around 1910 when Kostas Stoivaktas, a local shepherd, noticed a hole on the ground where bees were going in and then coming out. Stoivaktas assumed they were going to drink water so he began digging with a hammer and a chisel, which his eldest grandson keeps to this day, in order to verify his theory. And he did. There are reports that at some point, he also used explosives so it would be easier to enter the cave.
For decades, he kept going down tied with ropes in order to get some water from a small pool and had told no one about his discovery. To this day, remnants from the fire he used to light inside the cave in order to be able to see are still visible.
In 1958 the famous Diros Caves, also in the Peloponnese, had already been discovered and the local mayor had sent out holiday cards with the cave portrayed on one side. When the card arrived at the nearby village of Kastania, among those who saw it was Kostas Stoivaktas. As everyone started talking about the cave of Diros, Stoivaktas told them about the cave he had found and according to testimonies, he even called it “a treasure.”
A year later, pioneering Greek speleologists Giannis and Anna Petrocheilou, who founded the Hellenic Speleological Society in 1950, entered the Kastania Cave and began the long journey of its exploration and study. After decades of delays, the cave opened its gate to visitors in 2003.