In Greece, more than 7,500 caves, subterranean rivers, abysses, etc., have been discovered, explored and recorded. Some of them are considered to be among the most important internationally known caves connected either with mythology and archaeology or with natural wondrous scenes of stalactites and stalagmites.
Detailed information concerning caves, their opening hours and entrance fees, can be obtained from: a) the Greek National Tourism Organization (7 An. Tsocha St., GR- 115 21 Athens, Tel. 210 8707000, www.visitgreece.gr), b) the Ministry of Culture & Tourism, Ephorate of Palaeontology - Speleology (34b, Ardittou St., PO Box 182 80, GR-116 10 Athens, Tel: 210-9224339, 9225709, 9232358, Fax: 9225709, www.culture.gr. Click on: The structure of Ministry of Culture & Tourism - Special Regional Services - Ephorate of Paleontology & Speleology), and c) the Hellenic Speleological Society (32 Sina St, GR-106 72 Athens, Tel. 210-3617824, Fax 3643476, email: [email protected], www.speleologicalsociety.gr
Caves equipped with facilities for visits by tourists
ATTICA
PAIANIA - “KOUTOUKI” (Tel.: 210-6642910, 6642108) An abyss cave at an altitude of 510 m. on the eastern slopes of Mt Hymettus, 4 km from the village Paiania (Peania). The cave covers an area of 3,800 sq. m.
CRETE
LASSITHI - DIKTAIO ANDRO (DICTAEAN CAVE) at Psyhro, Tel. 28440 31086, 6978 415644, www.odysseus.culture.gr. An abyss cave, connected with mythology and archaeology, is located at an altitude of 1,025 m. on the northern slopes of Mt. Dikti. The total length of the cave is 250 m. and it covers an area of 2,200 sq. m.
LASSITHI - MILATOS MERAMVELOU. The cave, known since ancient times, is a subterranean cave 300 m. long, with a wonderful combination of stalactites. It lies 2.5 km east of the traditional village of Milatos, and 35 km NW of Aghios Nikolaos, www.odysseus.culture.gr.
RETHYMNO - MELIDONI. The cave, connected with the Greek mythology and history, is 500 m long, and lies 26 km E of Rethymno Town, 3 km from the village of Melidoni, www.rethymno.gr
RETHYMNO - ZONIANA - SENTONI (Tel. 28340 61209). The cave, at an altitude of 800 m, lies 13 km W of the village of Anogia and 1 km from the village of Zonania. The cave is the most impressive cave in Crete in size and decoration. It is 550 m long and covers an area of 3,300 sq.m., www.rethymno.gr
CYCLADES ISLANDS
ANTIPAROS ISLAND (Tel. 22840-61570, Fax 61218), www.antiparos.gr. An abyss cave at an altitude of 350 m., which covers an area of 5,600 sq.m. It is 85m deep, 89m long and 70m wide. Motorboats run a regular service from the nearby island of Paros. The cave is 8 km S of Kastro, the island’s port.
EPIRUS - IOANNINA
Perama www.spilaio-perama.gr (Cave Tel. 26510-81650, 81521, Fax 81660, email: [email protected]. The cave is located 4 km N of Ioannina Town, along the shores of Lake Pamvotida, and on a hill at an altitude of 400 m. It covers an area of 14,800 sq.m. and its corridors run to a length of 1,100 m. It is a horizontal cave with picturesque small lakes and 19 kinds of stalactites and stalagmites. The visitors can take a 45-minute tour. Near the cave there is also the Information & Promotion Centre of Perama Cave.
PRAMANTA. “ANEMOTRYPA”. (Information: Pramanta Police Station Tel. 26590 61205). The cave lies about 5 km. from the village of Pramanta, at an altitude of 900 m, 58 km SE of Ioannina Town. The cave is the bed of a subterranean river whose level has changed three times. It covers an area of 1,350 sq. m. and the length of its corridors is 350 m.
IONIAN ISLANDS
KEFALONIA ISLAND DROGORATI” (Tel: 26740 23302). The cave belongs to the village of Haliotata, 4 km SW of the town of Sami. It is located at an altitude of 120m and is 95m long, 45m wide and 21m deep. The cave, decorated by stalactites and stalagmites, has a very impressive chamber of an area of 30m X 40m, which is occasionally used for concerts thanks to its marvellous acoustics.
“MELISSANI” (Tel: 26740 22997). A subterranean lake cave, which belongs to the village of Karavomylos (3.5 km NW of Sami) and which is 160m long, 40m wide, 36m high and 39m deep. When the sun is directly overhead the cave, its rays strike the ultramarine water, shattering into a myriad phantasmagorical colours.
KYTHERA ISLAND
MYLOPOTAMOS. “AGHIA SOFIA”. www.kythira.gr . The cave, located on the island’s west coast, overlooks Kokala Bay from an altitude of 60m and is 40 min. walk from the village of Milopotamos. It has several vaults, corridors (110m long) and small pools.
MACEDONIA
DRAMA - KOKKINOGEIA - CAVE “MAARA” (CAVE OF THE SOURCES OF THE RIVER AGGITIS). www.spilaioaggiti.gr . The cave, 20km W of the town of Drama, near the village of Prossotsani, is a subterranean river 2,500m long. Useful telephones: Cave 25220-60460, Prefectural Tourist Office 25210 62307, Fax 62391, www.drama.gr, www.traveldrama.gr
HALKIDIKI - PETRALONA www.petralona-cave.gr, (Tel. 23730-71671, Fax 71677). The cave, connected with palaeontology, is located along the west foothills of Mt. Katsika at an altitude of 280m and at a distance of 800m east from the village of Petralona, 50km W of Polygyros and about 50km SE of Thessaloniki. The cave is decorated with stalagmites and stalactites. The total length of its corridors is more than 2 km and it covers an area of 10,400 sq.m. About 50 metres south of the entrance of the cave there is the Anthropological Museum which houses the finds (fossils of extinct species, palaeolithic tools, etc.) that come mainly from the cave.
KILKIS - AGHIOS GEORGIOS (Tel: 23410 20054, 6977 561800). The cave is located at the northern end of the town of Kilkis, at the foot of Aghios Georgios hill. It consists of two floors of a total area of 1,000 sq.m, and the total length of its corridors is 500m. The temperture in the cave is constant 15-17OC all year round and the humidity 95%. Info: www.kilkis.gr
SERRES - ALISTRATI. www.alistraticave.gr . The cave is 6 km SE of the village of Alistrati and 50 km E of Serres Town. It can be reached by road and rail.
This is considered by geologists to be among the finest and most beautiful in Greece and Europe. Here nature was put on a display of her loveliest ornaments and formations, with a huge variety of shapes of stalactites, stalagmites and eccentrites. In the latter, which are a unique phenomenon in Greece, nature has suspended the laws of gravity, and they have grown in all directions (up, down, sideways, etc.). The length of the passages so far explored comes to 3,000m and the surface, which has only slight gradients, to 25,000m. The temperature in the cave is 20OC and the humidity 70-75%. Visiting hours: 09.00-17.00 daily. Useful telephones: Cave: 23240 82045/46, Police: 23240 31203.
PELOPONNESE
LACONIA - DIROS (40km from Gytheion)
“GLYFADA” (Local name VLIHADA - Tel: 27330-52222, Fax 52223). The cave is a flowing subterranean river, which follows two main parallel corridors with several secondary flows. The length of its waterways is 4,500m, while the length of the cave on dry land is 800m. It covers an area of 33,200 sq.m. The tour of the cave for visitors covers a distance of 1,300m along waterways where boats are used and 400m on land. Well designed electric lighting creates a unique spectacle. “ALEPOTRYPA” (Tel: 27330-52233). The cave, which is considered to be one of the best natural history museums in Europe, lies 220m to the East of the Glyfada cave. It consists of numerous vaults and corridors, richly decorated. The tour of the cave is 600 m. long and the cave covers an area of 6,500 sq. m. At the entrance of the cave there is the Neolithic Museum of Diros, where the archaelogical finds of the cave, important examples of the everyday life of the 4th millennium BC (4000-3000 BC), are exhibited.
ACHAIA-LEFKASION-KASTRIA-LIMNES.
www.kastriacave.gr (Tel: 26920-31663, 31001, Tel./Fax 31588). The “Cave of the Lakes” (Spilaio ton Limnon), 1 km from the village of Kastria and 16,5km S of the town of Kalavryta, is 2,000 metres long and contains the mouth of a subterranean river. At the centre there are 13 terraced lakes.
