Natural cavity of historical importance located in Mossano, highlighted by a rock spire about ten meters high and unique in the Berici Hills.
It has a long history: it was frequented as early as the Paleolithic.
The first excavations began in 1959, from which emerged remains of animals and humans: three teeth and a phalanx belonging to Neanderthal men who lived more than 200,000 years ago.
But the most interesting discovery is the various hearths with ashes, dating back to 250,000 years ago, among the oldest found. These represent significant evidence of human adaptation to cold environments, hunting and eating animals in daily life and protecting themselves from the cold with their skins.
A further significant aspect is the finding of flint artifacts recovered in the lower part of the cave, which attest to Levallois working methods, a stone knapping technique.
There are records of its use as a hermitage starting from the late Middle Ages and continuing until the 1800s; tradition holds that the cave hosted St. Bernardino of Siena, hence the name of the hermitage.
In 1510, a severe massacre of the Mossano population occurred, following an attack where the population sought refuge in the cave, but enemy troops discovered and suffocated the trapped inhabitants with fire and smoke. After this episode, the cave was transformed into a rock church dedicated to Santa Maria delle Grazie, thus becoming a place of worship.
Between the end of the 1800s and the beginning of the 1900s, the cave was stripped of its contents; today, only a rather deteriorated fresco of St. Bernardino and a bas-relief carved into the living rock depicting the Madonna with Child remain.
Inaugurated in 2006 thanks to the work carried out by the Pro Loco of Mossano, a significant archaeological site recovery project.
The site is accessible via a branch of trail 81 and can be visited during the opening days promoted by Pro Loco Mossano or by directly contacting them for reservations. A small contribution from visitors is requested.
