Grotta dello Smeraldo

The Grotta dello Smeraldo is a sea cave on the coast of Conca dei Marini. An underwater opening connects its chamber to the sea, and filtered daylight gives the water its characteristic green colour.

Why it matters

The cavern is a karst formation that became partially submerged as the coastline changed. A fisherman discovered it in the 1930s, bringing it to wider attention. The cave lies on the Amalfi Coast.

What to notice

The chamber measures about forty-five metres by thirty-two and rises roughly twenty-four metres. Sunlight enters through an underwater fissure and reflects through the water onto the cave walls. Stalactites and stalagmites formed when the cavern was above sea level; some now meet in columns.

Context and history

The cave's natural opening below the waterline links its interior with the open sea. Its green appearance results from light filtered through that connection. The national tourism portal records its discovery in the 1930s.