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Grotta dello Smeraldo – Emerald Grotto

Emerald glow in Grotta dello Smeraldo, Italy
Emerald glow in Grotta dello Smeraldo / GothEric, Flickr / CC BY-SA 2.0.

WorldBlue  In short

Small but interesting is Grotta dello Smeraldo – Emerald Grotto – partly submerged cave in Amalfi Coast, Italy. Sunlight enters the cave indirectly – through the seawater and most of the visible spectrum is absorbed. Thus the water in one corner of the cave shines in a beautiful emerald green – blue color.

4.2 out of 10 stars 42.1%

GPS coordinates
40.6147 N 14.5674 E
Location, address
Europe, Italy, Campania, Amalfi Coast, small bay at Conca dei Marini
Name in Italian
Grotta dello Smeraldo
Length
> 45 m
Width
32 m

Map of the site

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WorldYellow In detail

One more blue grotto

Most likely some locals knew about this cave in earlier times – but wider society learned about it in 1932, when local fisherman Luigi Buoncore entered the cave and told about the beauty of the emerald light.

Back in those times cave was accessible only by diving 7 m deep under the cliffs. Today it has been turned into a tourist attraction and is available with much comfort – by an elevator (but also for free – by a ladder). As the elevator descends, tourists can enter the boats and take a tour around the cave.

Grotta dello Smeraldo in Italy, at the entrance
Grotta dello Smeraldo, at the entrance / GothEric, Flickr / CC BY-SA 2.0.

The development of tourist infrastructure (and some extra possibilities for cash collection) have taken away much of the natural beauty in the cave – mainly psychologically, especially if the guides are stubbornly telling nonsense about the cave. Amalfi Coast is so beautiful that one cave with emerald light in the corner does not seem to add anything of value. Nevertheless, this cave is an interesting landmark that can tell its story about the local natural history – if one cares to read it.

Geology and biology

Cave room is 45 by 32 m large, and the ceiling rises up to 24 m above the water. This large cavity has been formed by tectonic (bradyseism) and karst processes in the times when this rock was raised above sea level, some 5 – 6 thousand years ago.

When the cave was above the water level, stalactites and stalagmites formed in it. Some stalactites grew until they met their respective stalagmites and formed up to 10 m tall columns.

Now these beautiful cave formations are partly inundated – bradyseism descended and sea water entered the cave.

Grotta dello Smeraldo, Italy
Grotta dello Smeraldo / GothEric, Flickr / CC BY-SA 2.0.

Rare sea anemone (Anemonactis mazeli) lives in the cave and has adapted to the lack of light. The very rare leopard-spotted goby (Gobius forsteri) has also been spotted here.

Cave is not explored yet – there are two underwater passages in the north wall of the cave, which are waiting for their explorers.

Christmas dive

Italian television and Sorento Diver’s Club had a weird idea back in 1956 – to dive into the Emerald Cave and place there a nativity scene made from clay figurines. Now, this has turned into a tradition – divers are coming here with a procession every Christmas. They dive and place flowers at the statue of Jesus Christ. This has greatly helped the club to get some more attention and new members.

References

  1. Rosella Lorenzi, Roman statues found in Blue Grotto cave, Discovery News, September 28, 2009. Accessed on July 9, 2012.

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Abundant color photos, combined with thorough coverage, bring one of Italy’s most beautiful destinations to dazzling life. The Bay of Naples and neighboring Amalfi Coast epitomize southern Italy at its best: in one concentrated area, travelers find spectacular natural beauty, world-class art, rich history, and that quintessential Italian zest for living.

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