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Romito Cave

A Paleolithic cave above the Lao river with a 12,000-year-old aurochs engraving, in Pollino National Park.

  • Papasidero
  • Archaeological site
Plan your visit
Where
Papasidero
Best for
Aurochs engraving
Allow
1 hr 30 min
Best time
Spring or autumn
Tickets
From €6
Checked September 2026

The Romito Cave opens in a limestone cliff above the Lao river, in Pollino National Park near Papasidero. People lived here from the Upper Paleolithic to the Neolithic, and it counts among the most important prehistoric sites in southern Italy.

The great find is a large engraving of an aurochs, the wild ox, cut into the rock about 12,000 years ago and among the oldest works of art found in Italy; a cast is shown at the museum. The cave also held burials, including that of an achondroplastic man. A small Antiquarium at the ticket office explains the excavations and shows finds, and a short path leads to the cave. Visits are always with a guide.

Four things worth finding

If you see nothing else, see these.

  1. The aurochs engraving

    A life-size wild ox, calm and anatomically careful, cut into the rock some 12,000 years ago and among the oldest works of art found in Italy.On a large boulder between the rock shelter and the cave

  2. The cave and rock shelter over the Lao

    Humans lived here from the Upper Paleolithic to the Neolithic; your guide will point out where the layers of occupation were found.A short path above the river

  3. The burials

    The cave held graves, including an achondroplastic man, and a double burial of two maternally related people, among the rarest finds of the period.Explained at the Antiquarium, with finds shown there

  4. The Antiquarium

    A small museum that explains the excavations and shows finds, and where a copy of the aurochs can be seen up close.At the ticket office, before the path to the cave

Plan your visit

Everything you need before you go.

Tickets
From €6
Booking
No booking needed
Time needed
1 hr 30 min
Best time
Spring or autumn; combine with the Lao valley in the morning
Getting there
The Antiquarium and ticket office are about 4 km from the A3 Mormanno exit, following signs toward Scalea and the Bivio Avena turn. Park at the Antiquarium and take the short path on foot to the cave. Papasidero has no train; a car is needed.
Accessibility
The Antiquarium is accessible; the cave is not, because the path cannot be made accessible for people with reduced mobility.

Visits are guided only. Free for residents of Papasidero, visitors with disabilities, children under 6 and Pollino Park guides. Group reservations are recommended. Last updated September 2026. Prices change, so check the official site before you go.

Start at the Antiquarium so the cave makes sense, then finish with a rafting run on the Lao from a launch point a few steps away.

Official website
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Good to know

How long should you spend at the Romito Cave?

Allow about an hour and a half. That covers the guided visit to the cave and the engraving, plus time in the Antiquarium at the start. The short path to the cave is part of the visit.

Do you need to book the Romito Cave?

Visits are always with a guide, so check the visit arrangement before you travel and plan around it. Spring and autumn are the most comfortable seasons.

Is the Romito Cave worth visiting?

Yes, if you care about prehistory. It is one of the most important prehistoric sites in southern Italy, and the aurochs engraving is a rare chance to stand in front of a 12,000-year-old work of art.

More to see nearby

Same city first, then the nearest across the region.

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