Farneto Cave

The Farneto Cave, one of the most famous caves hidden in the Park of Bolognese Gypsums and the Abbadessa Gullies, was discovered in 1871 by Francesco Orsoni, who carried out the first important archaeological surveys.

This cave is famous for the discovery of some burials dating back to the Copper Age by the great Bolognese speleologist Luigi Fantini in the 1960s (the finds are on display in the “Luigi Donini” Prehistoric Museum, the Archaeological Museum of Bologna and the Archaeological and Paleo-environmental Museum of Budrio).

Damaged by the quarries, the whole outcrop and the cave have been inaccessible for years because of a landslide blocking the entrance, until the implemented recovery measures have finally enabled its rehabilitation and opening to the public in 2008.

On the occasion of the reopening of the Farneto cave in 2008, the Park presented the publication "La grotta del Farneto: una storia di persone e di natura" edited by Annalisa Paltrinieri, which, besides documenting the recovery of the whole area and the safety measures it has been provided with, tells the history of the place also through emotional contributions, accounts, and memories.

The Farneto Cave can be visited through speleological excursions organized by the Ente Parchi Emilia Orientale. For more information, you can visit the park's website