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The Caglieron Caves are located in locality of Breda in Fregona, in the province of Treviso.

The complex consists of a series of cavities, part of which are of artificial origin and part of natural origin; for the natural part, it is about a deep gorge carved by the Caglieron stream on alternating layers of calcareous conglomerate, sandstone and marl of the Middle Miocene (from 16 to 10 million years ago).

There are numerous waterfalls, of several meters high, with large potholes at the base. In the deepest part of the gorge, large calcareous concretions can be noticed on the wall, which close for a stretch and in part the vault, giving to the whole complex the appearance of a cave. On the walls of the gorge there are large artificial cavities, obtained from the extraction of sandstone, the typical “, piera dolza,” (soft stone).

The extraction activity, which dates back to 1500 and perhaps even earlier, provided the material for the construction of jambs, architraves, etc., which can still be observed on the old houses and palaces of Vittorio Veneto and its surroundings. The extraction method practiced is of great interest: being the layers inclined even more than 45 °, the detachment of the material, caused by using large chisels that have left visible signs, occurred in blocks, with the warning, however, to leave the columns inclined to support the vault. The result is an evocative set of artificial cavities, distributed along the ravine, on the bottom of which the torrent flows whirling and noisy, so as to bring to the construction of an equipped path.

The beginning of the trail, approximately 1 km long, is located on Via Ronzon, just after the Visitor Center. Through a pedestrian walkway that crosses the Caglieron stream, you descend onto a wide path, passing under the bridge of the Provincial Road. Along the trail, you'll come across numerous descriptive panels, and on the right, a very spacious cave opens up (Breda cave), characterized by inclined columns supporting the layers of sandstone forming the ceiling. A little further ahead, on the left, a wooden walkway leads to the cave for maturing the cave cheese (San Lucio cave) of the Soligo dairy. Returning just a few steps, you encounter a bow-shaped viewpoint from which you can admire the splendid natural gorge. Continuing on, traverse it on walkways, some of which are suspended at times.

Park map
Virtual Tour

Given the considerable limestone content of the waters, its sedimentation takes place with formations of wide concreted surfaces. In the most illuminated areas the presence of travertine is remarkable, with alternating moss and other plant residues Inside the artificial cavities, there are some section of tunnels explored by speleologists. Given the constant temperature in the deepest parts of the caves, and the progressive decrease in light, a series of micro-environments of considerable botanical and zoological interest can be observed.

At the end of the path in the gorge, the equipped path leads us to an ancient mill (restaurant) and, following the signs on the spot, after exiting the main gorge you will arrive at the Mulinetto, a historic structure built on two floors. Open to the public for photographic exhibitions, events but also for the simple visit which, going up to the 2nd floor, offers a pleasant view of the nearby waterfall.

Going up the path that passes above the restaurant mill, proceed up towards the end of the park. Along the trail, steep at first and then flat, we meet on the right two small renovated houses, destined to become Museo dello Scalpellino (The Stonemason Museum), in memory of the ancient craft.

The route ends by exiting directly on the Provincial Road 151 (pay attention), almost in front of a cave (Santa Barbara’s cave), previously used as a mushroom farm and now attending to be used as an educational laboratory in the future. In reality those that can be visited here are only a part of the existing caves; other similar “caves” are spread throughout the high part of the territory, up to Masarè above Borgo Ciser. One of these, after passing the bridge over the provincial road, was dedicated from the inhabitants at the devotion of the Madonna. Returning towards the beginning of the trail, we can visit the "Madonna Cave." Through a steep path that starts in front of the ticket office, you can reach the "Canton" and "Fai" caves in 10 minutes.

Place of the Heart FAI

Thanks to the signature collection organized by a dedicated committee in 2016, the Caglieron Caves secured the 3rd position in the Census and became a "Place of the Heart" by FAI (Italian Environmental Fund). With the received award, a video was produced, and a corner was set up inside the Visitor Center, where you can admire a small collection of tools donated by Mr. Arturo Breda, the last stonemason of Fregona.