The Toirano Caves

The caves of Toirano are located near Borghetto Santo Spirito, a small Ligurian town in the province of Savona. The complex is divided into four caves: the Grotta della Bàsura, the Grotta di Santa Lucia Inferiore and Santa Lucia Superiore, and the Grotta del Colombo. Currently, only the first two are equipped to be visited by the public outside, in all their incredible beauty.

Stalactites and stalagmites fill much of the available space, giving the Toirano Caves much of their fame. Families and school groups on excursions always stop to observe this particular karst phenomenon, attracted by the "magical" and austere aspects of the caves.

If you decide to give them a try, remember to wear shoes with a double and resistant sole, able to stay firm despite the humidity and slippery ground. Wear a raincoat if you don't want to get cold in the caves, which are cool even in summer.

What to see at the Toirano caves

The most beautiful and special cave to visit is the Grotta di Bàsura, which hides several surprises and attractions. Not only is it possible to admire the characteristic stalactites and stalagmites, but the visit continues in certain rooms where the remains of the cave bear have been found.

In 1950 the remains of "Ursus Spelaeus" were found, the bear that for years had chosen these caves as a safe place to hibernate. Its presence is testified by the remains of its bones, by the footprints on the ground, and by some traces of nails left on the walls.

The cave also hides the remains of human specimens that lived almost 12,500 years ago. The prehistoric man inhabited the rooms of the Bàsura cave, as did the cave bear, leaving important evidence of his presence.

In the "Hall of Mysteries," you can see an indefinite number of clay balls attached to the wall. These balls were probably thrown by our ancestors for ritual purposes, to fulfill a specific rite. Hand, foot, and knee prints can be seen along the walls, as well as bear claws. The men who inhabited these caves lived thousands of years ago when the stalactites had not yet taken up all the space they occupy today.

The most interesting rooms

Finally, we leave you with a list of the most interesting rooms hidden inside the Toirano Caves, which you can visit during your first visit.

In addition to the Sala dei Misteri, which we have already mentioned, we would like to mention the Sala Morelli, where the partially reconstructed skeleton of the cave bear is exhibited, and the Sala dei Levelli, where it is possible to observe the remains of an ancient underground lake.

We continue with the Footprint Corridor, a room where all the clay reproductions of human and animal footprints found in the caves are exhibited. The Living Room, on the other hand, contains some of the most beautiful limestone formations in the entire cave.

The Sala del Laghetto is the site of an ancient underground lake that is directly connected to the Antro di Cibele, the part of the cave that was originally completely underwater.

The Antro is famous for the presence of mammillary stalactites in the shape of breasts.

The connecting tunnel links the Bàsura Cave with the Santa Lucia Inferiore Cave, which houses the "Pantheon". This room is particularly famous for the "Pearl of the Cave", a stalagmite completely covered with aragonite crystals.

The last room worthy of attention is the Tanone, the last part of the cave. During the Second World War, this part of the cave was used as an air-raid shelter, while today it is the site of important cultural events.