Caves of Torri di Slivia (Grotta delle Torri di Slivia) Tours

The massive Torri di Slivia Cave is one of the most spectacular natural sights on Trieste’s karst plateau, which sits on the Italian-Slovenian border. Head more than 300 feet (100 meters) below ground to explore caverns filled with otherworldly stalactites and stalagmites formed over millennia.
 
The Basics
Take a spelunking adventure through the Torri di Slivia Cave and discover an underground world formed by thousands of years of water running through stone. The guided tour, led by a speleologist (cave specialist), follows an internal walkway and includes information about local geology. This cave is an easy day trip from Trieste and can be combined with visits to the Postojna Cave and Predjama Castle across the border in Slovenia.

Things to Know Before You Go

• The tour begins with a short ride to the cave entrance on an all-terrain bus, and you will be inside the cave for over an hour.
• Helmets and headlamps are provided; bring a light jacket, as temperatures are chilly underground.
• Shoes with rubber soles are recommended due to slippery surfaces inside the cave.
• You must tackle 200 stairs to enter and exit the cave; there is no access for wheelchair users.
• Photography without flash is permitted inside the cave.

 
How to Get There
Take highway SS14 north from Trieste; there are no trains or buses to the cave, so drive or join a day trip that includes transportation.
 
When to Get There
The cave is closed from December to March. Due to the low temperatures in the cave, a summer visit is the most pleasant.
 
Trieste
The elegant city of Trieste is located on the border between Italy and Slovenia, along the Adriatic coast, and is an excellent example of Italy's fascinating diversity. This wealthy capital has survived successive waves of invaders and rulers since the Romans, and it was annexed by Italy from the former Austro-Hungarian empire after World War I. In the center of the city, the influence of millennia of conquerors is evident, with Roman ruins sitting next to elegant Viennese palaces and the Catholic church of San Giusto, the Serbian Orthodox church of San Spiridione, and a Jewish synagogue all lying within a one-mile radius. The city is also known for its beautiful Piazza dell'Unità d'Italia (Piazza Grande) which looks out over the sea, the Borgo Teresiano neighborhood’s Grand Canal (Grande Canal), and the Miramare Castle, which is just outside the city.