Kastania Cave

Unique EXPERIENCE

A hidden gem 3 million years of age

The cave of Kastania near Agios Andreas, rich in density and variety of shapes, colors and forms, is ranked second in its kind in Europe.

Early lin the last century Costas Stivaktas, a shepherd, was watching bees entering a small hole looking for water. This fact lead him to open a slit in the ground in order to find that water source. Soon he faced a cave of unique beauty .Since then, he and his descendants used to enter the cave, holding a lighted broom to see, and to get water from a small trough. This went on until 1958, when the cave became widely known. The shepherd saw a postcard depicting a cave and realized the importance and the significance of the cave.

Three million years took to the nature to create the unrivaled stone decoration and to shape objects and constructs of a priceless fantasy. Among the huge red and white “waterfalls” the gigantic columns, the “curtains” and the “sheet” that overflow like waxworks from the roof, nesting “octopus” and “corals”, “elephants” and “mushrooms”, “birds” and caricatures, “exotic plants” and monumental creatures.

Rare instances such as trays, flat stalagmites, eccentrics and eliktites have a special place in the cave and are important stations of the tour. With a little luck, you might encounter a noble resident of the cave, the blind and deaf Dolichopoda.

In the wider area of the cave formations dominate like alpine sections “phyllite – Quartzite” and “Tripoli”. Inside limestones formations of Jurassic age (195-145 million years ago) of “Tripoli”, took place before 3 million years the speleogenesis , after a period of geological disturbances an active period followed with dropping flow and creation of chemical sediments. The cave decoration composed of calcium carbonate in crystalline form enriched with metal oxides of the subsoil which give a seven color palette.

The extent of the cave is 1500 sqm, divided into two levels and the visitor enters a route of 500m. The works of exploiting were in absolute harmony with the natural outdoor environment and the internal interventions were characterized by the Ephorate of Palaeoanthropology – Speleology as “excellent to the smallest detail”.

The trip from Neapolis and the environment of the cave is an experience that promises the visitor unforgettable images. Verdant mountain slopes that face the Epidilion and cape Kamila, picturesque villages with gurgling fountains and Byzantine churches, medieval towers, canyons with old watermills, myths, legends, ancient heritage and the blue vastness of Mytroo sea compose its kingdom. In the courtyard of the cave the cafeteria, a warm place , made with passion, offering relaxation. Nearby is the old church of Agios Andreas scarred from the passages of pirates and conquerors, from which the cave took its name.

MAP

SCHEDULE – TOURS

Kastania Cave will operate as follows:

from 1st December until the 22th December 2024, it will be open from Friday until Sunday from 10:00 till 17:00
from 23/12/2023 until 07/01/2025 daily , except Christmas Day (25/12/2024) and New Year Day (01/01/2025)
from 08/01/2025 until 31/01/2025 it will be open from Friday until Sunday from 10:00 till 17:00.