Every year Tuscany attracts hundreds of thousands of tourists who want to get acquainted with countless attractions of the most famous Italian region.
The town of Vergemoli with a population of a bit more than three hundred of people is located in the Tuscan province of Lucca. There is only one architectural place of interest in this tiny town. This is Roman St Quirico and Giulitta Church, Chiesa dei Santi Quirico e Giulitta. The church has a long history; it first appeared in historical documents as early as at the beginning of the X century. However, in most cases tourists come to Vergemoli not for the sacred place. A unique natural phenomenon located on the outskirts of the town attracts them.
A number of underground caves called the Wind Cave (“Grotta del vento”) are located on the territory of the Apuan Alps Natural Park, Parco Naturale delle Alpi Apuane. They are 4 500 meters long and 120 meters tall.
Thousands of speleology lovers and just fans of extreme come here to see the fanciful result of wind playing. Erosion and ground waters have created an unforgettable phenomenon – columns of stalactites and stalagmites, alabaster and polychrome lava draperies, impressive lake crystals. Besides all this greatness, bones of prehistoric rodents and bears found here are worth observing. These relicts impress not only by their age, but also by the fact that any form of life under these conditions is an exception just by itself.
The cave has two entrances located at different heights of 627 and 1400 meters above the sea level. The temperature inside the cave is always constant, 10.7 degrees Celsius. Differences between the levels and between inside and outside temperatures result in constant air flow. Wind gusts are very tangible and quiet long.
Every day is good to take a risk and feel wind power in the Tuscan caves. Every day, excluding the 25th of December. The Wind Cave is closed for visitors on this day. First information that on December, 25 wind in the cave is especially strong appeared as early as in the XVII century. You can only guess whether it is an anomaly or just a superstition. Guides who give visitors tons of interesting information about this very special place are ready to reveal other mysteries of the Wind Cave.
