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Kastania Cave
The extraordinary Castania Cave in Lakonia, contains some of the best examples of rare stalactites and stalagmites in Europe. It is estimated to be around 3 million years old and it is certainly one of the most beautiful and most visited caverns in Greece. Covering an area of 1.500 sq. meters at two levels, at the foot of the gorgeous Mountain Parnonas, Kastania Cave has unique formations, complex figures, gigantic columns and huge hanging rock curtains.
The cave was discovered in 1910 by a shepherd Kostas Stivaktas. He had notices bees flying into a small crevice, and he guessed they might go to drink at a spring inside. As a shepherd he also needed water, so he searched for the water by opening the crack and found the cave instead. He was able to gather some water from a pool, and so the cave became the secret of him and his descendants. This changed in 1958, when the Kastania Community started to protect the cave and organize guided tours. The cave is nowadays very well developed with concrete paths and stainless-steel railings.
It is a great limestone cave with deaf and blind crickets living down there, filtering nutrients from the water. There are beautiful formations of both stalactites and stalagmites in various sizes, shapes and colors. The roofs of the chambers are dense with stalagmites and large columns. Nearly all of these features were created in a period of three million years, as limestone that was dissolved by the slow flow of weakly acidic water, infiltrating through overlying rock layers, and then re-deposited as calcium carbonate. The array of colors results when calcium carbonate is enriched with metal oxides.
Access
The cave is located at the end of a spectacularly winding 13 km route northeast of Neapoli, close to the homonym village Kastania. It is a bit of a drive to the cave through some winding roads but the drive is very scenic and, on your drive up the mountain range to the cave, you will enjoy some breathtaking views. Obviously, the cave was named after the village of Kastania, but it is also called St. Andrew’s Cave after the nearby chapel of Agios Andreas.
Guided Tours - Tickets
Guided tours depart hourly. The tour lasts 30 to 40 minutes and the guides speak excellent English. Visitors to the cave travel along an approximately 1,650 ft (503 m) path allowing them to see amazing stalagmites and stalactites as well as oddities such as helictites. The guides are very informative and always happy to answer any questions. The ticket price is 7 euros but there are discounts for children, students, unemployed, organized groups and people with disabilities. Reservations are not available. Tickets can be purchased at the Kastania Cave. The site has a nice café for refreshments and shade on hot days. Even the drive from Neapoli to the cave takes around 30 minutes, it is worth to visit this impressive cave. Keep in mind that pictures and video are not allowed.
Distance Table:
- Kastania Cave - Monemvasia: 52,2 kms (1h and 12 mins)
- Kastania Cave - Neapoli: 13,0 kms (23 mins)