One of the most exciting ways to spend a day in the Lunigiana region, a stunning mountain area very near to La Spezia and Cinque Terre. Visit a spectacular karstic cavern in one of the most peaceful villages of Tuscany and enjoy a unique wine tour at a medieval monastery.

The day begins when you meet with your private English speaking tour guide who will lead you throughout the whole day. You can meet the guide at an easy meeting point in Aulla and then follow him with your car or have your guide on your van/bus. During the drive from the meeting point to the town where the cavern is located, your guide will give you an introduction to the day and a description of the mountain area that you are visiting, the lovely Lunigiana.

After about 30 minutes we reach the cute village of Equi Terme, a very peaceful location where two mountain rivers join, famous for its water springs. Here you will receive your helmet and some basic instructions on how to walk in the cavern before entering it.

You will then start your adventure into a karstic cave along a beautiful and safe route, which will allow you to discover the evolution of an ambience formed over millions of years by the interaction of water and stone. You will stroll into narrow fractures in limestone, around deep, long tunnels up to underground little lakes of great splendour. You will be surrounded by colorful stalactites, stalagmites, columns, drapery flowstones and any form of natural concretion.

As the cave interiors have a temperature ranging from 10 to 13°C, we highly recommend bringing a sweatshirt during the visit, along with comfortable shoes. The duration of the visit in the cave is approximately 1 hour and the area is easily accessible to any people able to walk independently. For safety reasons it is not possible to access the cavern if carrying clutches or any other item that might impede walking. Children over 4 years of age are welcome, if able to walk independently.

The experience continues through the visit to a small and modern archaeological museum that displays all forms of life inhabiting the cave and a lot of interesting facts related to such an underground ambience.

After spending some time in the underground, it is then time to breathe some fresh air! The second part of the tour is dedicated to nature and history. Just a few minutes away from the cave is a spectacular wine estate developed right around an ancient monastery from the 7th century. Over the centuries, some friars inhabiting the monastery have cultivated plenty of fruits and vegetables, including grapes. The property passed to a noble family in the late middle ages and the production of wines continued and evolved. Today, the property is one of the most representative wineries in the region, with a production that ranges from international grapes like Merlot and Syrah to some autoctonous varietals like Pollera and Barsagliana. During our tour you will learn all secrets of this special terroir located in a very peculiar position in the middle of green mountains. A wine tasting session and lunch complete the experience: you will enjoy the whole range of 5 wines produced by the monastery served with a platter of cold meats, cheeses and bakery products as well as a main course.

As optional, you have a great chance to enjoy an access to the spring water pool and spa of Equi Terme for the rest of the day at the end of the tour.