{"id":18494,"date":"2024-01-17T13:02:03","date_gmt":"2024-01-17T13:02:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/villeinsalento.com\/grotta-zinzulusa\/"},"modified":"2025-02-21T14:40:11","modified_gmt":"2025-02-21T14:40:11","slug":"grotta-zinzulusa","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/villeinsalento.com\/en\/grotta-zinzulusa\/","title":{"rendered":"Grotta Zinzulusa"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><\/span><b>Grotta Zinzulusa<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> is a natural wonder located along the <\/span><b>Salento coast<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, between <\/span><b>Castro and Santa Cesarea Terme<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. Renowned for its fascinating karst formations, the cave owes its name to the dialect of Salento, where &#8220;<\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">zinzuli<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">&#8221; means &#8220;rags&#8221;. The stalactites hanging from the ceiling, in fact, take the form of hanging cloth flaps, creating a suggestive and fairy-tale atmosphere. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In addition to the singular concretions, the Grotta Zinzulusa is a rich <\/span><b>historical and natural heritage<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">custodian, which is why it is one of the most visited caves in Italy<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. An unforgettable experience for lovers of nature, speleology and history. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-14374 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/villeinsalento.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/grotta-zinzulusa-2-1.jpg\" alt=\"grotta zinzulusa\" width=\"1200\" height=\"800\" title=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/villeinsalento.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/grotta-zinzulusa-2-1.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/villeinsalento.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/grotta-zinzulusa-2-1-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/villeinsalento.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/grotta-zinzulusa-2-1-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/villeinsalento.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/grotta-zinzulusa-2-1-768x512.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\" \/><br \/>\nh2><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">General information<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The <\/span><b>access to the Grotta Zinzulusa<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> is only possible on foot from Piazzale Zinzulusa. The <\/span><b>guided tours<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> inside the cave are conducted exclusively by specialist guides and <\/span><b>they last about 30 minutes<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, allowing a complete immersion in the atmosphere of the place. The 150-metre route allows you to admire stalactites and stalagmites with bizarre shapes and discover legends and curiosities thanks to highly trained guides.\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">We recommend wearing comfortable, non-slip shoes.  <\/span><\/p>\n<p><iframe title=\"YouTube video player\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/JbIPp4gyz2k?si=mWOZwlv5cy3nrGQR\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The formation of the Grotta Zinzulusa<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Grotta Zinzulusa is the result of a thousand-year work <\/span><b>sculpted by marine erosion during the Pliocene<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. This fascinating cavity,<\/span><b> divided into three distinct sections<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, takes us on a journey through time and the wonders of geology. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Crossing the threshold of the cave, we are in the first section, where an incredible variety of stalactites and stalagmites creates a fairy-tale atmosphere. Admiring these limestone concretions, illuminated by light games, it is easy to imagine fantastic creatures and surreal landscapes. But the show is not over: here we are waiting for the &#8220;<\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Conca<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">&#8220;, a<\/span><b> underground lake<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> where sweet and salty water meet, Creating a striking mix of colors and reflections. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Continuing our path, in the second section of the cave, we enter an environment that takes us back in time, to <\/span><b>Cretacico<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. Here the less compact rock tells the story of incessant erosion caused by inland waters. Stalactites and stalagmites become rarer, leaving room for more bizarre forms. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In the last section of the cave, the &#8220;<\/span><b>Cocito<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">&#8221; welcomes us with its crystal clear waters. A particular lake, composed of two distinct layers: an upper one cooler and sweeter, a lower one warmer and salty. This body of water, surrounded by suggestive concretions, represents the grand finale of an unforgettable experience, a real natural masterpiece that leaves you breathless. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-14376 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/villeinsalento.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/grotta-zinzulusa-3-1.jpg\" alt=\"grotta zinzulusa orari e prezzi\" width=\"1200\" height=\"800\" title=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/villeinsalento.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/grotta-zinzulusa-3-1.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/villeinsalento.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/grotta-zinzulusa-3-1-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/villeinsalento.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/grotta-zinzulusa-3-1-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/villeinsalento.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/grotta-zinzulusa-3-1-768x512.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\" \/><\/p>\n<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The legend<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Like many places in the Salento, <\/span><b> the Grotta Zinzulusa has a bizarre legend<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. It is said that once, in the area of the Grotta Zinzulusa, lived a Baron of Castro, a man with a cold heart and a miserly soul. He had immense wealth, but his greed made him accumulate more and more, even neglecting his own daughter. The child, dressed only in wretched rags, lived a sad and loveless existence, marked by the cruelty of her father and the absence of her mother, who died because of his mistreatment. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">One day, a compassionate fairy saw the suffering of the child and decided to help her. With a magical gesture he gave her a splendid dress, tearing up the old and worn one she was wearing. The rags, carried by the wind, flew away and lay on the walls of the cave, petrifying forever. From that moment, the cave was named &#8220;Zinzulusa&#8221;, in memory of those rags turned into rock. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">But the fairy did not stop there. Indignant at the Baron\u2019s cruelty, she punished him by throwing him into the depths of the waters beneath the cave. Where his body fell, the abyss of hell opened up, giving birth to the lake known as &#8220;Cocito&#8221;. According to legend, the crustaceans who witnessed this terrifying scene were forever blinded by horror. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The story, however, also has a happy ending. The young woman, thanks to the intervention of the fairy and her goodness, not only escaped from misery and suffering, but also found love and happiness. She married a rich and kind prince, who finally made her happy and gave her the comfortable life she had always deserved. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-14378 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/villeinsalento.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/grotta-zinzulusa-1.jpg\" alt=\"grotta zinzulusa come arrivare\" width=\"1200\" height=\"800\" title=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/villeinsalento.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/grotta-zinzulusa-1.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/villeinsalento.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/grotta-zinzulusa-1-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/villeinsalento.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/grotta-zinzulusa-1-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/villeinsalento.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/grotta-zinzulusa-1-768x512.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\" \/><\/p>\n<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Opening hours and prices Grotta Zinzulusa<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The <\/span><b>opening hours for the Grotta Zinzulusa vary according to the period<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. Guided tours depart <\/span><b>every 45 minutes<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: <\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">from July 1st to August 31st from 11:00 to 18:30 &#8211; Friday and Sunday also at 9:30 and 10:15<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">in September from 11:00 to 17:00<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">from 1 October to 1 April from 10:15 to 14:45 <\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">from 2 April to 30 June from 10.15 to 17. <\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">For updated timetables we recommend you to consult the <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.grottazinzulusacastro.it\/orari\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><b>official website of the Grotta della Zinzulusa<\/b><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.\u00a0 <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The <\/span><b>ticket prices <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">also vary: <\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li aria-level=\"1\"><b>Full ticket: 6 euros<\/b><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Reduced ticket (under 11 years): 3 euros<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Online pre-sale: 1 euro (excluding commissions)<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Special reductions for groups (minimum 30 people)<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Tickets can be purchased on site or on the official website.  <\/span><\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_14380\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-14380\" style=\"width: 800px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-14380 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/villeinsalento.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/Holger-Uwe-Schmitt-grotta-zinzulusa-1.jpg\" alt=\"grotta zinzulusa\" width=\"800\" height=\"1189\" title=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/villeinsalento.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/Holger-Uwe-Schmitt-grotta-zinzulusa-1.jpg 800w, https:\/\/villeinsalento.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/Holger-Uwe-Schmitt-grotta-zinzulusa-1-202x300.jpg 202w, https:\/\/villeinsalento.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/Holger-Uwe-Schmitt-grotta-zinzulusa-1-689x1024.jpg 689w, https:\/\/villeinsalento.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/Holger-Uwe-Schmitt-grotta-zinzulusa-1-768x1141.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-14380\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Foto di Holger Uwe Schmitt by Wikipedia<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Where it is and how to get there<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The <\/span><b>Grotta Zinzulusa is located in Puglia<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, <\/span><b>precisely in Castro Marina<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, in Salento, about 15 km from Santa Cesarea Terme and 20 km from Otranto, along the picturesque Adriatic coast.\u00a0 <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">To get to the Grotta Zinzulusa from Lecce you have to take the SS16 southbound towards Castro. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">You can also get there by sea<\/span><b> <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, by private boat or excursions from the<\/span><b> marina of Castro<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.\u00a0 <\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Grotta Zinzulusa is a natural wonder located along the Salento coast, between Castro and Santa Cesarea Terme. Renowned for its fascinating karst formations, the cave owes its name to the dialect of Salento, where &#8220;zinzuli&#8221; means &#8220;rags&#8221;. The stalactites hanging from the ceiling, in fact, take the form of hanging cloth flaps, creating a suggestive [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":14379,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"inline_featured_image":false,"_glsr_average":0,"_glsr_ranking":0,"_glsr_reviews":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[46],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-18494","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-attractions"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/villeinsalento.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/18494","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/villeinsalento.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/villeinsalento.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/villeinsalento.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/villeinsalento.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=18494"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/villeinsalento.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/18494\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/villeinsalento.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/14379"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/villeinsalento.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=18494"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/villeinsalento.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=18494"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/villeinsalento.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=18494"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}