3° giorno: Equi Terme

Description: this area of the Apuan Alps is particularly interesting for the karst phenomena. Of particular interest is the narrow and deep natural canyon (Solco di Equi), formed by the erosion of the water stream Catenelle, along with the marble road leads to the glacial valley of Pizzo d’Uccello. The canyon is included in the Site of Community Interest “Glacial Valleys of Orto di Donna and Equi” and it’s characterized by numerous geomorphological peculiarities and endemic plants, unique plant rarities around the world beside the golden eagle that nests on its cliffs. The groove of Equi, together with the complex karst of the caves, is one of the most important Geosites of the Apuan Alps Regional Park, recently recognized as a Geopark under the auspices of UNESCO.

The Grotte di Equi cave complex, developed over hundreds of thousands years thanks to the action of water penetrating into the fractures of the calcareous rock. In this cave complex many features of great beauty and naturalistic interest like shafts, galleries, chambers, and underground lakes can be visited.

Description: The Grotte di Equi karst complex is a registered geosite of the Apuan Alps Regional Park, recognized also Geopark in the European and Global Geoparks Networks (EGN-GGN) under the auspices of UNESCO.

The Equi cave complex developed over the course of hundreds of thousands of years thanks to the action of water, which for millennia penetrated into fractures in the calcareous rock, eroding it and leaving behind features of great beauty and naturalistic interest: shafts, galleries, chambers, and underground lakes.