The original name of these caves was ‘Inferno’ (Hell) because of the vapours that emerge from the highest openings of the cave in winter.

This is a karst complex of considerable naturalistic value, scientifically documented by speleologist Ludovico Quarina in 1916, which is home to one of the largest and most varied colonies of bats in Italy.

The Onferno Caves – declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site on 19 September 2023 along with six other sites in the Northern Apennines – were carved out by an underground stream that cut through an isolated chalk cliff, opening up tunnels, chambers and ravines that extend underground for over 1 km.

Today, an easy and spectacular 400-metre route is open to visitors of all ages, featuring high, winding underground corridors marked by the watercourse through large rooms and ceilings with unusual formations known as “mammelloni”.

As mentioned, numerous bats live along the meanders or hang from the vaults. They should not be disturbed, but you can learn all their secrets. A visit to Onferno is also the perfect opportunity to dispel some common misconceptions about these special little creatures: they are not blind, they do not stick to your hair, and each one eats “only” thousands of insects every night!

Grotte di Onferno (Gemmano, RN), torrente | Credit: Piero Gualandi

To access the cave, you descend a path through the woods, in a wild and protected environment that connects water, rock, fauna and splendid vegetation.

The visit lasts about 90 minutes, during which – wearing caving helmets provided by the Visitor Centre – you will be accompanied by a specialised guide. It is not by chance that this is the most important tourist cave in Emilia-Romagna.

It is advisable to wear comfortable shoes with treaded soles to avoid slipping in the dampest areas or in the woods, and a sweatshirt or light jacket even in summer. The internal temperature is around 12-14 degrees all year round, so even if you descend into “hell”, you will stay cool even in summer!

Above the chalk cliff overlooking the caves lies the village of Onferno, or “Castrum Inferni” as it appears in the first historical records dating back to 1231. Once a rural castle, it has now been restored with a few houses, a hostel and an inn.

The view from the small square is breathtaking and healing for the soul, with San Marino in the background of the Valle del Conca, Sassofeltrio perched in the foreground, and the sea to the east.

273 hectares in the hilly area of Rimini, protected for their undoubted naturalistic value, given by the presence of dense and rich vegetation, fauna with rare wild animals, and a particular geology characterised by sinkholes, swallow holes, cliffs and gullies and, of course, caves.

A beautiful and varied area which, with a little care, allows for excursions and surprising natural and landscape observations, facilitated by well-maintained signage.

Among the main itineraries, of varying length and difficulty but all equally beautiful, are the Ripa della Morte, the Via dei Crinali and the Sentiero Natura, as well as the Sentiero della Memoria, which crosses the places where the Gothic Line passed, in the municipality of Gemmano.

The Nature Museum is housed in the ancient Pieve di Santa Colomba, one of the first churches in the Rimini area, which was partially destroyed during the Second World War and has now been completely renovated.

It is a museum with exhibition and educational purposes, illustrating the natural features of the Nature Reserve in terms of vegetation, fauna, geology and speleology.

The parish church also houses the Visitor Centre, a reference point for educational activities with schools, but also for exciting excursions into the caves and the Reserve – and there is also an interesting wild garden next door.

Finally, there is the Multimedia Museum, which serves as a multifunctional space for conferences, training courses and screenings. Inside, there is also a tourist information office and a small bar.

In summer, after sunset, the caves open once again for a new journey immersed in the magic of the night and to discover its protagonists.

The ‘Bat Night’ tours are dedicated especially to bats: unique mammals that have evolved to great success and have learned to move through the air with real acrobatic manoeuvres.

Millions of years before humans, bats began to use radar, which allows them to move at night without hitting obstacles, guiding themselves with echoes, or rather with their ears, listening to the reflected echoes. All this helps us understand the wonder and genius of these small winged mammals.

The evening visit allows us to see them as they go out hunting, but also to discover why they hang upside down. Leaving the cave at night, between the woods and the stars, is an experience you will remember for a long time.