Top 15 Caves around Luserna

the sinkhole is quite impressive and quite intimidating

Austro-Hungarian World War I artillery emplacement, dug into a cave: it housed a 105mm gun that dominated the Riofreddo Valley below. The trees, now thick, were gone over a hundred years ago, having been felled by soldiers who needed a clear line of sight. Just above, at the edge of the plateau, is a second 'fortress' carved out of a natural rock formation, which housed another 105mm gun with the same function of dominating the valley. To defend and maintain the positions conquered on the Tonezza Plateau, after the Strafexpedition of 1916, imperial units built trenches, walkways, cave shelters, and artillery emplacements everywhere. The cave is located along a short ledge, at the base of a cliff, used as a climbing gym with numerous routes: to reach it from above, follow a short but fairly steep path that descends towards the valley floor.

Austro-Hungarian artillery emplacement from World War I, dug into the rock. With the great Spring Offensive of 1916—nicknamed the 'Strafexpedition,' or Punitive Expedition—the Imperial Army aimed to break through the Italian barrier and invade the Po Valley through the valleys of the Vicenza Prealps. Obviously, the first prerequisite for this plan to be feasible was to dominate the surrounding peaks that controlled the access routes below, driving out the enemy. On May 21, 1916, Austro-Hungarian troops passed through an empty and desolate Tonezza: the inhabitants, faced with imminent danger, had quickly abandoned the town and its surrounding countryside to take refuge in the plains, facing exile lasting only a few weeks, but which lasted until the end of the conflict due to the escalation of hostilities. The Italian army, in disadvantaged and indefensible positions, had retreated, barricading itself on Mount Cimone, the last and indispensable bastion of resistance. To defend and maintain the positions they had conquered on the Tonezza Plateau, the Austro-Hungarian units built trenches, walkways, cave shelters, and artillery emplacements everywhere, like this fort: dug into a natural rock formation, it housed a 105 mm gun to dominate the Rio Freddo Valley below. The trees, now dense, were gone over a hundred years ago, having been felled by soldiers who needed a clear line of sight. Not far away, continuing along the steep path that descends to the valley toward the climbing wall, there is a second fort, dug into a cave, which housed another 105 mm gun.

A foaming and thunderous waterfall cascades from the spring known as 'Gorgo Santo' (which can be visited a little further along, climbing the trail —> see related highlight). The small bridge actually spans two waterfalls, one upstream and one downstream. I recommend descending to the paved road below, on the border between the hamlets of Scalzeri and Longhi, for a spectacular view of the stream cascading through a series of rapid drops before flowing into the Astico River. I also recommend visiting this site after days of rain or when the snow has melted in the mountains, to see the water swollen and rushing!

The diameter and depth of the chasm are impressive. It's scary. I advise caution in the cold months (and not only) as there is ice everywhere and the area becomes a skating rink, although there are protective barriers. I speak from lived experience....

Natural chasm that nature is now recovering, worth seeing if you pass through the area

The Gorgo Santo is a spring that features a very rare phenomenon... Rainwater and snow water are not retained by the Luserna Plateau due to the karst composition of the terrain; instead, it flows down the valley through tortuous underground passages. Under normal conditions, it flows from the lower Gorgo Santo cave; however, in heavy rain or snow, the cave may be unable to handle the full flow, so the water is also released from the upper Gorgo Santo cave... a sort of safety valve. Pope Boniface IV (7th century) happened to pass through these parts during a trip and blessed the whirlpool: hence the name "santo." But there is another, more evocative and legendary, theory behind the name: it is said that here, Saint George defeated the Great Dragon that dwelt in the cave and dominated the valley! The presence or absence of water depends on rainfall or snowfall: to find a good flow of water, you should visit on days after it has rained; otherwise, you'll visit the whirlpool in its "dry" state.

Impressive and spectacular sinkhole of karst origin, which descends as a well for 46 meters, then continues with a lateral corridor and falls with another well, reaching the overall depth of -96 meters! The dark and mysterious mouth is illuminated by a natural skylight dug into the karst ceiling. At the bottom of the cave the ice remains throughout the year. It is called indiscriminately Caverna or Voragine (del) Siesòn or Sciasòn.