Discover the suggestive caves of the Ligurian hinterland
In the Ligurian hinterland there are fascinating places to discover such as the caves of Toirano in the province of Savona. A real underground symphony of stalactites and stalagmites, a limestone spectacle that triumphs in the vast halls formed by these very large caves.
This tourist attraction is visited every year by many visitors from all over Italy and also from Europe. The caves have a long history to discover and preserve a unique natural spectacle. Today you can see this place through guided tours that allow tourists to enter and explore the two caves.
Where are the caves of Toirano?
The Toirano Caves are a fascinating complex of galleries that is known for its incredible beauty. They consist of several cavities of which only two are open to the public.
Located a few kilometers from the homonymous village are of great historical and naturalistic interest. The stalactites and stalagmites inside create wonderful decorations in the rock and preserve the oldest traces of prehistoric settlements. Today they are one of the main tourist attractions of this inland area of Liguria in the province of Savona.
The history of the caves of Toirano
The caves of Toirano were used since ancient times because their conformation offered an excellent shelter during the winter. Before the arrival of man this place had been used for millennia by cave bears. Many remains of this species have been found in the caves and for this reason these caves are known as the bear cemetery.
As for man, the first traces of its presence date back to 300,000 years ago and concern the Homo heidelbergensis, a species of hominids lived between 600,000 and 100,000 years ago. Their peculiarity consisted in the large size of the skull, compared to other species they were about 170 cm tall and had a massive body structure.
Homo Neanderthals lived in these caves between 80,000 and 40,000 years ago while homo sapiens arrived here around 12,000 years ago. The latter species used the caves for ritual and non-living purposes.
The caves of Toirano are explored in their entirety since 1950 when a group of young people from the Ligurian village managed to open a gap in the rock that prevented access to the caves. This is the cave called the Basura and was opened to the public from January 1, 1953.
In 1960 we then continued with the exploratory activity and we arrive at the end of this cave and begins the exploration of the second the lower cave of Saint Lucia. On July 9, 1967 the tunnel was completed that connected the two caves creating the path that is still used to visit these places.
What to see at the caves of Toirano?
Today the visit of the caves of Toirano takes place with a guide who leads the tourists through the spectacular natural tunnels. It passes between narrow corridors carved into the rock and paths dotted with stalactites and stalagmites that create extraordinary natural decorations.
The first cave to be discovered was the Basura cave. This was the most explored and studied over the years. Its structure is very articulated and consists of several internal rooms. The lower part of this cave was used as a place of worship. An artificial tunnel connects the two caves of Toirano that can be visited today.
The second is called Saint Lucia which is divided into an upper and a lower part. In the first there is the sanctuary built in the fifteenth century and where you can see the inscriptions left by pilgrims. In addition, positioned higher than these two there is also the Grotta del Colombo, but it is not freely visited because of the studies in progress.
The village of Toirano: here’s what to see
The village of Toirano is one of the oldest towns in western Liguria and has always been a contact area between the populations of the coast and those of lower Piedmont. Today the historic village attracts many visitors not only for its spectacular caves but also for the charm of the town. In the village there is the ethnographic museum that is located inside the historic palace of Aste.
Here are exposed many objects and artifacts that represent the ancient activities that were made in this area of Liguria. the first part of the museum is dedicated to the cultural aspects and activities of the populations of these places while the second presents a reconstruction of the environments of the aristocratic residence that allows you to see the customs and customs of the community of the Ligurian hinterland.
Toirano is a small medieval village to discover with its bell tower in Gothic style and the pretty square overlooking the parish church of San Martino. Another place of worship in this area is the Abbey of San Pietro in Varatella, located on top of the homonymous mountain dominates the landscape.
Copertina: residenceoliveto
