Beneath the charming village of Santarcangelo di Romagna, there is a hidden world, a labyrinth of tunnels, wells, granaries and caves carved out of the tuff. A place steeped in mystery, where history intertwines with legends and archaeology meets the imagination.
This ‘city beneath the city’ has over 160 man-made underground chambers, many of which can only be visited via guided tours, for reasons of safety and conservation. A captivating journey through centuries of history, revealing the town’s most hidden and fascinating side.
The public monumental cave and the archaeological site
The highlight of the tour is the public monumental cave (Amati/Contradina), one of the largest and most fascinating caves. The interior, subtly lit, welcomes visitors with its hushed silence and the scent of ancient tuff, taking them on a journey through time.
During the tour, the guides recount local legends and stories, sparking the imagination: religious rites, ancient cults, folk festivals and the daily lives of those who once used these caverns to store wine, seek shelter during sieges or escape danger. The tour also includes the casemate, part of the archaeological site in Piazza Balacchi, further evidence of the complexity of this underground world.
For groups, an extension of the tour to is available, subject to booking, Felici Private Cave, situated in the medieval citadel: an even more intimate and evocative experience.
The 150 underground chambers and the city beneath the city
The caves are mainly concentrated in the eastern part of the Colle Giove and extend over three levels of depth. Some feature unusual architectural elements – columns, niches, circular chambers – which have fuelled theories about the existence of ancient mystery cults, perhaps linked to the god Mithras. More likely, these caverns were used to store food and wine, or as shelters during times of conflict, particularly during the Second World War.
It feels as if you’re walking through a stone labyrinth, where every step tells a fragment of history, every turn conceals a mystery.
The 300 medieval granaries
As you stroll through the narrow streets of the village, you notice the signs of the medieval granaries: around three hundred pits dug into the sandstone and clay, created to protect grain stores during sieges. These cavities, which blend in perfectly with the urban landscape, are now marked on the cobblestones and are often visible within the courtyards of the buildings.
Ice houses and snow cellars
In Via Ruggeri, near Porta Cervese, there is a curious and fascinating building: a icehouse A medieval icehouse, now partly incorporated into a restaurant. Once filled with compacted snow, it was used to preserve meat and other foodstuffs. This north-facing area was once home to numerous icehouses, which formed an integral part of the village’s economic life.
The legendary escape routes
Like any self-respecting hilltop town, Santarcangelo also boasts its own secret escape routes. Legend has it that Sigismondo Malatesta, lord of the town, had an underground passage that enabled him to make his escape on horseback, reaching the parish church about a kilometre away. No one has ever found any evidence of this tunnel… but the mystery continues to fascinate.
An experience to be savoured with all your senses
Visiting the caves is an experience in itself a multi-sensory experience: the aroma of wine stored in ancient barrels, the rough texture of the hand-hewn walls, the charm of the low lighting that casts a play of shadows, the voices of the guides recounting forgotten stories. All this takes place at a constant temperature of 13°C, creating an evocative, timeless atmosphere.
Visiting arrangements and opening hours
- Guided tours every day, except 25 December and 1 January
- Duration: around 50 minutes for the standard tour / 1 hour 15 minutes for the combined tour
- Departure: IAT Pro Loco Office, Via Battisti 5
- Languages: Italian (guided tours available in English, French, Spanish and German by prior booking)
🔸 Opening hours from 29 March to 25 October: 10:00 | 11:30 | 15:30 | 16:30 | 17:30
🔸 Opening hours from 26 October to 28 March: 10.00 | 11.30 | 15.00 | 16.00 | 17.00 (Thursdays: mornings only)
Note: From April to September, some visits (Wednesdays and Sundays at 3.30 pm, Saturdays at 10.00 am) also include a short tour of the MUSAS, Historical and Archaeological Museum.
Prices
Public cave + casemate
- Full price: €5 (€7 with MUSAS)
- Concession*: €4 (€6 with MUSAS)
- Free: children up to the age of 14, people with disabilities and their carers who are not self-sufficient, and accredited journalists
Public cave + Felici’s private cave
- Full price: €7 | Concession: €6
- For pre-formed groups only (minimum 8 participants); booking required at least 7 days in advance
Schools
- €2 per pupil (primary and lower secondary school)
- €3 per pupil (upper secondary school)
- Free for accompanying teachers and for all schools in Santarcangelo (up to lower secondary level)
*Concessions for the over-65s, UNPLI members and groups of more than 20 people
Practical information
- The caves can only be visited as part of a guided tour
- We recommend wearing comfortable clothing and closed-toe shoes
- Not accessible to wheelchairs or pushchairs (except for the public cave)
- In the event of heavy rain, the casemate is closed to visitors
- Dogs are allowed provided they are small or medium-sized and well-behaved
- Payment at IAT Pro Loco, the tour’s starting point
Discover Santarcangelo in a new light
Santarcangelo is not just a charming hilltop village: it is a veritable treasure trove of hidden secrets, an invitation to explore, to dream and to let your imagination run wild.
👉 Book your visit and let yourself be guided through the enchanting shadows of the underground city.
