It is a wonder of creation, an earthly paradise, the flagship of the city of Alghero and of the entire Mediterranean: the Neptune's Grotto, "embroidered" by nature, always the refuge of the god of the sea, is a place that must be admired with your own eyes at least once in your life.
Among the cliffs overlooking the blue of the Capo Caccia promontory, 24 kilometers from the city, the cave dates back a long time. 2 million years ago and is presented as one of the largest marine cavities in Italy, designed by incredible karst formations, a white sand beach and a majestic underground lake, with a horizontal development of four kilometers at the same level of the sea.
Probably discovered by a fisherman from Alghero at the end of the 18th century, it is today a jewel that attracts, every year, more than 150.000 visitors coming from all over the world (and it's not hard to imagine why).
All the charm of a splendid tourist itinerary
The exciting sightseeing itinerary in front of the magnificent Neptune Cave is approximately one kilometer long along the specially created trail along the side ridge.
From the entrance, covered in stalactites and stalagmites, the first impressive stop is the Marmora LakeThis transparent salt lake is among the largest in Europe, with a beautiful sandy beach, once covered with small pebbles and for this reason it is called "Pebble Beach".
In the center is theHoly water font, a monumental two-meter stalagmite born from the eternal drip like the Cave: at its top there are small basins where fresh water accumulates, a precious source for the birds that nest in the protected marine area of ââCapo Caccia - Isola Piana nel cuore del Porto Conte Park.
Going down a slight slope you reach the âHall of Ruinsâ, adorned with imposing stalactites, and immediately after the âpalace hallâ where it is impossible not to be enthralled: a magical spectacle, made even more exciting by the crystalline waters of the lake that act as a mirror for the colossal columns that rise to the ceiling for nine meters, as if they supported it. .
Between inlays, openwork, mosaics and a harmonious and symmetrical luxury, stands aimmense 18 meter column while, at the bottom of the lake, between festoons of calcite and large flows, the stalagmitic shape of the âChristmas Treeâ stands out.
Continuing on is Smith Hall with the most imposing column in the Cave, the great organ, whose flows resemble, in fact, the pipes of an organ, and then the Dome, a formation of smooth walls joined to the ceiling with a column that recalls the dome of a Cathedral.
After admiring its majesty, it is time to Lace and lace salon, adorned with fringes, lace, delicate inlays and, finally, the Tribuna musical, balcony with a unique panoramic view from above of Neptune's Cave.
How to get to Neptune's Cave
An unavoidable stop during a stay in Alghero, you can reach the Grotta di Nettuno with two itineraries, one by land and one by sea.
By land, is about thirty minutes by car from Alghero following the SS127bis and then the Strada Provinciale 55 to reach the most extreme point of the Capo Caccia promontory where the entrance to the Escala del Cabirol (Scala del Capriolo) with its 654 steps carved in the rock.
It is also possible to use public transport with a extraurban bus daily departing from the main terminal on via Catalunya in Alghero (journey duration 50 minutes).
by sea, boats leave every day from the Cala Dragunara pier in Porto Conte or from the tourist port of Alghero with a 40-minute journey that allows you to admire the coast, the rocky promontories of Punta Giglio and Capo Galera, and the magnificent Riviera del Coral among wild and uncontaminated nature.
