European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - April 3, 2007, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Tuesday apri 32007 stars and stripes Page 17 photos Courtesy of Grotta Gigante above left this stalagmite a formation named Ruggero after an italian Spe Lunker is thought to be about 200000 years in the making Center it might seem As if the Steps Down into the Grotta Gigante Are endless the tour office lists 500 Steps Down and 500 More Back up above right these formations dubbed Gelati because of their supposed resemblance to ice Cream dont look quite Good enough to eat of wonders italian Grotto shows what water and time can create by Kent Harris stars and stripes it might seem As if no matter where you go in Italy youre Likely to see something old but to see some of the stuff that really been around awhile you need to go underground there if s possible to see natural formations of Rock that have been growing for several Hundred thousand years or so one of the Best places to do so is within an easy drive of Aviano air base or Vicenza Grotta Gigante is just North of Trieste near the italian Border with Slovenia according to its publicity it has been called the worlds largest tourist Cave and is listed in the guinness Book of records italians knew about the Cave Long before there was an Italy but there want much written about it until a series of explorations conducted in the 1800s that s Proba Bly because the Cave want easy to explore until modern spelunking techniques and equipment were introduced before that ifs possible that some peo ple got in but didst live to relate the tale the original Entrance had a Steep drop the first step As they say was a doozy it want until 1908 that the first groups of tourists had ready Access at another Entrance since then it has become a popu Lar tourist attraction of the Trieste area these Days ifs not necessary to take thanks to electricity its possible to see an array of colors in Grotta Gigante without the Light visitors  even see their hands in front of their faces your own flashlight ropes and climbing gear for a trip inside in fact that would be frowned upon just Wear a Good pair of shoes and maybe a jacket As temperatures below tend to be cooler than those above theres a series of prohibited items including cameras and Ceil phones no smoking no dogs or other pets presumably it probably  make sense to take Small children who cant walk a lot on their own either strollers wont work and visitors have to navigate about 500 Steps Down and Back up during the trip visitors follow a guide along a Cement pathway lined with Metal railings and featuring step after step after step it might seem As if there Are even More on the Way the most impressive aspect of Grotta Gigante is the sheer size of the place according to various web Sites it is about 925 feet Long 215 feet wide and 350 feet High pick just about any size building you know St Peters Basilica in Rome for instance and it would fit inside the Cave is Well lit in most places allow ing visitors to see the variations in colors that Range from White to red with a lot of general shades of Rock thrown in there Are stalactites formations going Down and stalagmites formations going up in Abun dance the most noted features Are various named stalagmites it takes years of drip Ping water to form the oddly shaped creations the largest named Ruggero after an Early explorer is thought to be about 200000 years in the making so plan a second visit in a few decades maybe youll notice half an Inch of new material email Kent Harris at Aviano por Denone Peter and stripes on the it directions ifs about 75 Miles from Aviano air base to the Cave that1 s a drive of about Ivy hours or about from Vicenza from Aviano take a28 to a4 toward Trieste look for the Sonico exit a few Miles after passing through the toll Booth 390 euros from por take a right after Cross ing the overpass and follow Brown signs to the Cave about three Miles from the freeway times to visit you must take a tour and unless prior arrangements were made it will be in italian from april through september the 45minute Tours Start on the half hour from 10 am with the last one beginning at 6 pm Dur ing the rest of the year Tours begin on the hour with the last one at 4 pm the Cave is closed mondays except in july and a gust when ifs open daily costs admission is 750 euros for groups of 25 or More it is 6 euros each parking is free you can also try asking for a taped presentation in English if the Tours not big you might be allowed to carry it along without charge fast food Cricket is near the exit and not far from the Entrance it offers hamburgers hot dogs pizza and various drinks for a few euros each there Are a few restau rants in the Small City nearby carrying picnic supplies from the base might be a Good idea information an overview of the Cave in italian is at  Call to Reserve a tour in English or if in a Large group phone 040327312 fax 040368550 Kent Harris