I step up to an inconspicuous steel door in the middle of a mountain wall. The door is opened and now we enter a short brightly lit corridor, which is closed again with a steel door at the end. Only when the entrance door is closed, we are allowed to enter the underground world of Kapsia Cave.
It goes deep into the mountain….
About 15 kilometers from Tripoli and a good 1.5 kilometers from the small village of Kapsia, in the Mantineia Mountains, lies one of the 10 most important caves in Greece. This was documented in 1887 by a French archaeologist when he discovered it during excavations in ancient Mantinia. It did not take long for the first group of scientists to embark on an expedition underground, exploring the passages and existing rooms.
The researchers discovered a complex system in the mountain and published their findings in a journal in 1911.
In 1974, researchers set out again to explore Kapsia Cave. They discovered new, previously unknown areas that showed ancient flooded areas. For example, the scientists found human bones in the layers of mud that were almost half a meter thick.
To date, the cave system has not been fully investigated. It remains to be seen what surprises still await the researchers.
Since 2010, Kapsia Cave has been open to tourists, who can discover the magical underground world on a guided tour.
The stalagmites and stalactites in the Kapsia Cave
About 300 meters you go inside the cave. The path is very well lit and so that you can hold on well, there are partly handles and railings in uneven places. It is cool in the cave. Here are permanently about 16 degrees, fortunately I had taken a jacket.
As soon as I arrive at the first short stop during the tour, I don’t know where to look first. The multicolored stalagmites and stalactites form a unique and impressive image that is reflected on the surface of the small ponds inside the cave. I’m not quite sure if the colors are all “real”, or perhaps colorful lights add to the effect. But it looks beautiful, and if I change my location even a little, it’s almost as if I’m seeing a completely new stalactite.
The Grand Salle des Merveilles (Great Hall of Wonders) is one of the highlights of the tour. Here I also discover stalactites that seem to consist only of pure limestone. They are white and form a strong contrast to the rock layers of the cave.
During the tour, my attention is repeatedly drawn to “finds”. Shards of clay from old oil lamps, presumably from the Hellenistic period, and human bones today give rise to speculation. Who has found here voluntarily or involuntarily his last resting place?
The Kapsia Cave is divided into a total of 8 “chambers or rooms”. Each chamber offers a unique impression of what nature can create over the years. When you consider that a stalactite “grows” about 1 mm per year, the shapes and sizes of the stalagmites and stalactites are even more incredible. If you look closely and have a lot of imagination, you will discover different animal shapes or building forms.
The tour was over far too quickly. But the memory of the almost enchanted underground world remains.
Address:
Mantinia 221 00,
Griechenland
Opening hours:
Monday, Wednesday-Friday: 9 -15 h
Saturday-Sunday: 9.30-15h
Tuesday: closed
Admission price:
Adults: 4,-€
The visit to Kapsia Cave took place in the framework of the pretours of TBEX and Region of Peloponnese.
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