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The Caves of Collepardo: The Underground World of the Ernici Mountains
The opening to the Grotte di Collepardo lies at the foot of the Rupe del Marginato, a cliff on the southern slope of the Ernici Mountains, in the province of Frosinone. They are also known by their original name, “Grotte dei Bambocci” (Puppet Caves), due to the stalactites resembling puppets and figurines. In 1904 Queen Margherita of Savoy visited them, and is said to have sat on a throne-shaped stalagmite: since that day they have also been called the “Queen Margherita Caves.”
What to see inside
The entrance is a triangle of rock from which one descends into the main chamber: over 90m long, with a vault up to 20 m high, divided into three sections by stalagmitic columns. The Petrified Forest is the most spectacular section, where stalactites and stalagmites meet in a process still active today, with an average growth rate of 1 mm every 3 to 20 years. Further on are the Central Chamber and the Throne Chamber. The route ends in the Upper Chamber, where one finds “cave pearls,” small spheres of calcite that form inside tiny pools of water. A side chamber is closed to the public to protect the bat colony that inhabits it.
From prehistory to the cult of Mithras
Inside the caves, remains of Pleistocene red deer (Cervus elaphus) and human skeletons from the Bronze Age (1600–1400 BC) have been found. But the most intriguing discovery consists of ex-votos (votive offerings) linked to the cult of Mithras: the cave housed a Mithraeum, a shrine dedicated to Mithras and used for initiatory rites.
