Grotte di Castellana — Attraction in Castellana Grotte

I rarely write negative reviews, but I feel compelled to warn others about how disappointing Grotta Palazzese turned out to be. We spent over $1,000 on what was supposed to be a special evening, and instead left disgusted, frustrated, and completely let down. This restaurant is all appearance with absolutely no substance behind it.

From the moment we arrived, things started going wrong. We were seated near the toilets where the smell of sewage was overwhelming. Not a faint odor, but a strong, nauseating stench that ruined any chance of enjoying the meal. When we asked to move, the staff admitted they were aware of the issue but only offered us a table in the back of the cave, even though several open tables were clearly available in better locations. It felt like we were being punished for speaking up. The fact that they knowingly seated guests in that condition is completely unacceptable.

Then came the mosquitoes. There were so many it felt like a full on infestation. The restaurant made no visible effort to manage or prevent them. We are staying in an apartment in the same area with no issues.

The service throughout the evening was absolutely abysmal. The sommeliers were clearly untrained, shrugging off basic questions about wine pairings and providing no guidance. We described the type of wine we were looking for twice and were offered two completely off base options. We felt so uncomfortable that we ended up buying a $200 bottle just to end the conversation, even though we could probably find the same wine nearby for under $30.

The waitstaff were inattentive and borderline dismissive. We had to pour our own water and wine throughout the night. That might seem minor, but when you're paying luxury prices, you expect basic service. We’ve received better service at casual restaurants.

As for the food, it was a total letdown. Of the four dishes we ordered, only one was even remotely decent. The lobster, which should have been a standout, was rubbery and tasteless. The other dishes were bland and uninspired. Not one plate came close to justifying the price. Honestly, I wouldn’t have paid $10 for what we ate, let alone over a $1,000.

The ambiance was also a total let down. The live saxophone player looked miserable and played with no energy or passion. He appeared resentful and only added to the uncomfortable atmosphere.

I came into this evening with high hopes based on and the hype. Instead, I left feeling embarrassed that I had fallen for the gimmick. Grotta Palazzese is a complete letdown. All image, no execution. A total let down and utter disgrace to the restaurant...

This is a truly amazing cave system. I've visited many caves before in various countries. But none comes close to this one in terms of the number of stalactites and stalagmites. There are massive chambers, medium and small passages, each one with its own character. It's just fantastic and I would definitely come again if I were in the area. The slight downsides are totally understandable. You're not allowed to take photos in the main parts of the cave. I guess that's mostly because they need to keep the tours moving so as not to hold up those behind you, but also because it can be a little slippery under foot and people taking pictures can be clumsy. I'm a tall guy too. So there was a fair bit of crouching for me. I can imagine people bumping into things if they were looking at their phones. It's a pity though, because it's visually amazing and the lighting is perfect. The other thing is that you're in a fairly large guided tour group. So your visit might be affected by the behavior of others in that group. Among the interesting individuals in my group were a couple of children who took every opportunity to do what the guide had just asked them not to do, and make noise every time the guide said something about the cave. The parents were useless at controlling their own offspring and several other people in the group told the children to behave instead. The information the guides give is fairly basic, but still very interesting without being over the top or superfluous. I'd highly recommend this cave for a visit. It is a magical place that really set my imagination on fire. I booked a ticket the day before online. I'd recommend booking a bit in advance because I could see that buying a ticket on the door was seemingly a protracted business for some reason, and I guess you can only do it if there's space on one of the tours. When I booked online I wasn't sure I'd get a space. So maybe booking a couple of days ahead...

The Castellana Caves (Grotte di Castellana) are a natural attraction located approximately 45 kilometers southeast of Bari, in the Puglia region of southern Italy and were discovered in 1938 by Franco Anelli. It is an extensive cave system over 3 kilometers long and 122 meters deep.

See stunning underground formations, including stalactites and stalagmites that defy gravity by growing in various directions . Highlights of the cave include:  • La Grave: The main entrance, a vast vertical cavern measuring 60 meters in depth .  • Grotta Bianca (White Cave): Renowned for its dazzling white alabaster formations, considered one of the most beautiful in the world. You will likely see some bats there too.

Two guided tour options are available:  • Short Tour: Approximately 1 km, lasting 50 minutes, priced at €12 .  • Full Tour: Approximately 3 km, lasting 2 hours, priced at €16 . Tours are conducted in multiple languages, including English, with specific schedules depending on the season .

Paid parking is available near the entrance if driving.  By Train: The Ferrovie del Sud Est (FSE) line connects Bari Centrale to the Grotte di Castellana station, approximately a 1¼-hour journey. Then it is about a 20 minute walk (uphill) to the cave entrance.

I get cold easily but did not need a jacket inside, however non-slip shoes suitable for walking on damp surfaces is a must. Book tickets in advance through the official website to avoid long queues . 

For more info go to the official website: grottedicastellana.it.

NOTE: photography and videography is strictly prohibited in most of the cave system. (Hence the 4 stars). They monitor this and one person was removed from the tour I was on for violating the rule.

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