Pastena between caves and village culture

Pastena combines an impressive cave landscape with village culture and vibrant traditions. The Grotte di Pastena in the Parco Naturale Regionale Monti Ausoni e Lago di Fondi is particularly characteristic of the area. Those who choose a holiday apartment or holiday home in Pastena can tailor their trip to their interests by combining nature experiences, local history and a festival date.

The Grotte di Pastena as a special natural experience

The Grotte di Pastena consists of a lower active section and an upper fossilised cave section. Inside are chambers with stalactites, stalagmites and columns; there are also lakes and seasonal waterfalls. A striking example is the Sala del Lago blu, where a waterfall around 10 metres high, dependent on rainfall, plunges into a small lake with a depth of 5 metres. It is fed by the Fosso Mastro and by small springs at the bottom.

The cave dates back to the Mesozoic Era. Around 80 to 50 million years ago, the continuous erosion caused by water shaped the cave landscape. The history of its exploration is also part of the visit: the Grotte di Pastena was explored in 1926 by Baron Carlo Franchetti and other cavers, and opened to tourists as early as 1927.

Guided tour and practical planning

Access to the cave is exclusively by guided tour. Groups comprise a maximum of 12 people; if there are several family groups or people for whom social-distancing rules do not apply, up to 20 people are permitted. This requirement is important for planning your day, particularly if you would like to combine the cave visit with other activities.

The active section of the speleological tour is 2,200 metres long. It follows the underground course of the stream that enters the cave in the Pastena area under the name Fosso Mastro and emerges again in the Falvaterra area as the Rio Obaco. Along the way, it takes in water from numerous underground springs that flow throughout the year. From the “Ceprano” exit of the A1 Autostrada del Sole Rome–Naples, the route leads via Via Ristretto southeast to the SP151 towards Pastena; this section is 6 kilometres long.

Pastena between museums, alleyways and festival traditions

For a quieter or more culture-focused day of travel, the Museo dell’Arte Contadina e dell’Ulivo is a good choice. Its 13 rooms present aspects of local farming life. These include a room for olive-oil production, a craft room, a bedroom and a room for grain processing. In the historic centre, narrow cobbled alleyways and stone houses create the traditional atmosphere of an old village.

A special opportunity to visit is the Cherry Festival, which takes place on the first Sunday in June. It was established in 1936 and includes floats designed by Pastena’s districts. If your stay coincides with this date, the festival tradition adds a communal event to the nature and culture aspects of your trip.

Choosing accommodation to suit your travel plans

When choosing your accommodation in Pastena, you can first decide on your preferred focus: the cave and its guided tour represent a nature-oriented discovery, while the museum and historic centre offer local history and everyday culture. In June, the Cherry Festival adds a festive occasion. This allows you to tailor your search for a holiday apartment in Pastena to the experiences your travel group actually wants to include, without mixing up the different options.

For additional destinations in the surrounding area, you can also include Pontecorvo, Pico, Frosinone, Roccasecca, Falvaterra, Colfelice, Giuliano Di Roma and Ferentino in your wider travel plans.

Back to the higher-level travel overview: Frosinone.