Tourist info
At the ticket office of the cave it’s possible to find free information pamphlets about:
- Where to eat
- Where to sleep
- Tourist attractions nearby
- Show caves in Italy
- Various tourism services
Gift shop
There’s a gift shop in the same building as the ticket office where many interesting minerals and fossils can be bought, both for private collectors and museums, or the occasional buyer. There’s a good assortment of jewellery and costume jewellery in silver and semi-precious stones. Most of the pieces on display are directly imported from their place of origin, so particularly good prices can be found.
By appointment, you can also buy wholesale, articles which have been directly imported.
Books and postcards
At the info point of the ticket office some publications about the cave and the surrounding territory can be purchased. Road maps and mountaineering maps are also available, as well as a wide assortment of postcards of the cave, Garfagnana and the Apuan Alps Park.
Bar
There’s a bar in the same building as the ticket office where you can purchase a quick snack to eat at the counter or at the table or in the nearby picnic area.
The bar is also open during the winter season, but doesn’t offer the same assortment of snacks as in summer.
A short distance from the Grotta del Vento several restaurants can be found.
Photo exhibition
In 67 images: the history of the exploration, the touristic development of the cave since 1964 up until today and interesting facts about the underground world.
Projection room
A projection room is available in the visitor’s reception area, equipped with a screen, video projector and blinds to obscure light.
Picnic area
A few steps away from the ticket office of the cave, on the edge of some thick woods of hornbeam trees, there are three free picnic areas, where in good weather, you can eat your own packed lunch or choose from the snacks available at the nearby bar. The loudspeaker announcing the entrance of the groups can be heard from all the areas which are equipped with wooden tables, wooden and stone benches and fountains with drinking water.
To avoid forest fires in these areas it is forbidden to light fires.
Transfer service (for organized trips only)
Only upon reservation for groups of more than 20 people.
We inform you that the road Gallicano – Grotta del Vento does not permit the transit of buses exceeding 11m in length and 3.5m in height.
The time needed for the transfer is 30/40 minutes, both ways.
The transfer service can be carried out with the appropriate vehicles by the following companies:
Biagiotti Bus:
+39 0583 75113
www.biagiottibus.itFidelity Tours – Guidi Guido:
+39 0583 641038
www.fidelitytours.comSantini Viaggi:
+39 0583 643249
www.santiniviaggi.comThe transaction will take place between the person in charge of the group and and the chosen transport company, without involving in any way the offices of the Grotta del Vento.
Restrictions
The service cannot be made during the busiest days:
Easter, Spring Bank Holiday weekends, Sundays in August and days near the 15th August. On those days we do not advise anyone to come to the cave with a bus.
Car park
There are two car parks near the visitor’s reception area of the Grotta del Vento.
Private car park free for customers – white lines
The Grotta del Vento’s car park is past the metal gate. It doesn’t have a lot of places, but it’s free and very close to the ticket office and the entrance to the cave. It can contain mostly cars and, with some difficulty, larger vehicles.
The car park gate is shut after the closing time of the cave (19:00).
Council car park with a fee – blue lines
The public car park is outside the gate, run by the Municipality of Vergemoli (External link). From 9:00 to 19:00 the council car park has a fee.
The car park remains open at night and is free. Camper vans are allowed to spend the night there.
Audioguides
In the Wind Cave all the tours are guided. Whereas the guide in Italian is available at any time, the frequency and availability of groups guided in other languages is variable and depends on the season.
In the case of a group not being available in the language chosen, an audioguide can be requested at the ticket office. It contains a detailed description of the cave in the following languages: English, German, French, Spanish, Polish, Dutch, Russian, Swedish, Portuguese, Hebrew, Chinese.
The audioguide service is free.
The audio guides in 12 languages are available for download in mp3 format on this page.