Grotta dei Cervi (Porto Badisco)
Italy · Europe
The richest Neolithic painted cave in Europe, its guano-and-ochre figures spread over hundreds of metres.
Age
~6,000 yrs
Period
Neolithic
Setting
Cave
Art form
Paintings
Discovered
1970
Status
Closed (Research Access Only)
Discovered by cavers in 1970 near Otranto in Apulia, the "Cave of the Deer" holds the largest cycle of Neolithic wall paintings in Europe. Hundreds of figures — deer hunts, dancing shamans and dense geometric webs — were painted in bat guano and red ochre. It stays closed to the public to protect the fragile art.
Notable Features
- ◦ Largest Neolithic painting cycle in Europe
- ◦ Deer hunts and dancing figures
- ◦ Painted in guano and red ochre
Depicted Subjects
DeerHuman FiguresGeometric Signs
Plan a Visit
AccessClosed to the public.
Sources & Further Reading
Hours & prices change — always confirm on the official site before travelling.
Photographs via Wikimedia Commons — image credits. Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors.