The Matese Massif is a mountainous complex of karstic origin, here the water over the millennia has carved a system of caves of incredible beauty that from the speleological point of view represents one of the most important hypogeal sites of the southern Apennines. The abyss Pozzo della Neve is located in the beechwood of Costa del Carpine, in the locality of Tornieri, inside the WWF Oasis of Guardiaregia-Campochiaro.
The site, of considerable interest and high environmental value, is located within the protected area SIC-ZPS largest region of Molise. The abyss has two entrances, located a short distance from each other, the main one is located at an altitude of about 1330 m above sea level and is a natural entrance, the secondary one is located at an altitude of 1368 m above sea level and was opened artificially in 1984. With an extension of 8 kilometers and its 1048 m depth, is placed in 6th place among the deepest caves of Italy and 51st place in the world ranking. In 1955 a group of Roman speleologists discovered the entrance of this cave and initially explored it up to -110 m, then in 1962 and 1972 the explorations led to the discovery of branches that reach a depth of -731 m. In 1988, the bottom of the cave was reached at an altitude of -1,045 m. In 2008 was born the collective Speleomatese, consisting of numerous associations and individual speleologists who organize summer camps to ensure that the exploration does not stop.
IMPORTANT
The accessibility of Pozzo della Neve and other minor abysses and Canyons of the Reserve, is suitable only for speleologists with consolidated experience.