The Comole of Castel Morrone: Karst Crater Hike

The “Comole” of Castel Morrone, hidden among the folds of the Monti Tifatini, stand like silent guardians of a mysterious and fascinating underground world. These natural wonders, made up of two distinct craters, offer an adventurous experience that combines the beauty of nature with the thrill of exploration.

Monte Fioralito and the Road to Adventure

The Comole lie on the side of the hill called Monte Fioralito, located in the middle of the Monti Tifatini range. An ideal starting point for the adventure is the “Masseria di Monte Coppa” (altitude 323 m), where you can leave the car and set off along barely sketched-out paths.

The Dangerous Comola Piccola: A Treasure Hidden in the Vegetation

The first crater you come across is the “Comola Piccola”, a hidden treasure at an altitude of 264 m. The route requires care, as this crater is camouflaged by thick scrub. With an opening about 30 metres in diameter and a depth of about 100 metres, the Comola Piccola is shaped like a demijohn, with a cavernous bottom covering an area of over 1,250 m².

Climbing over the Monte (altitude 394 m) and heading slightly west is the first step to discovering this karst gem. The sense of adventure grows, as every step calls for caution, so as not to find yourself suddenly on the edge of the crater, exposed to the risk of a fall.

The Spectacular Comola Grande: A Record-Breaking Doline

Continuing the adventure, you come across the “Comola Grande”, less dangerous but certainly more spectacular than its smaller counterpart. With a diameter of about 250 metres and a circumference of almost 800 metres, this collapse doline literally seems to split the side of the hill open.

Measured from the upper rim, the depth of the Comola Grande ranges from over 280 metres to about 150 from the lower rim. Explored by the Gruppo Speleologico del Matese (Matese Caving Group), this doline was described by Prof. Pietro Parezan, founder and first president of the Centro Speleologico Meridionale, as “The largest collapse doline in Italy.” Here the adventure becomes an immersion in a unique landscape, where the earth seems to open up to reveal its deepest secrets.

Life Hidden in the Depths: Crows, Foxes and Other Inhabitants

The walls of the Comola Grande, once dominated by crows, were the exclusive realm of these birds, which nested there by the thousands, damaging the surrounding crops. Foxes, skilled hunters, found shelter in dens at the bottom and fed mainly on crows.

Today things have changed, and the walls of the Comola Grande host a variety of birds depending on the season. Spotting falcons, woodcocks, wild pigeons and, of course, choughs offers a unique experience of connection with wild nature.

Exploring the Depths: Into the Heart of the Earth

For the boldest spirits, the adventure can go even deeper. Once you’re positioned at the lower part of the Comola Grande, you face an imposing wall over 130 metres high. A barely visible path leads down to the bottom, offering an almost mystical experience of descending into the bowels of the earth.

The bottom of the Comola Grande is rugged, with vegetation reduced to moss and lichens. A pool of water, impossible to reach without the right precautions, adds a touch of mystery to the underground landscape. The walls, once the domain of crows, today welcome a variety of winged inhabitants, making exploration an ever-surprising and constantly changing journey.

Protecting the Environment and an Invitation to Responsible Adventure

In 1996, the entire area of the Comole di Castel Morrone was placed under protection by the Ministry of the Environment, recognising the importance of preserving this unique ecosystem. Here adventure becomes an invitation to explore responsibly, respecting the flora and fauna that inhabit these fascinating karst craters.

It is also listed by FAI (the Italian National Trust) in the “I luoghi del cuore” (Places of the Heart) project.

Their origins and… what is a doline

The period of their formation cannot be determined exactly. What is certain is that evidence of their existence can already be found in documents dating back to the 16th century.

In geomorphology a doline is a closed hollow, typical of plateaus made of limestone rock, formed through the dissolution of the calcium carbonate that makes up the rock; it is a landform typical of areas where surface karst phenomena occur. From a hydrological point of view it is the closing point of a drainage basin, whose centre would fill with water forming a small lake if its walls and bottom were impermeable; instead, the water is usually drained away through underground channels, because at the bottom of dolines there is almost always a sinkhole (a natural funnel) through which rainwater seeps into the underground cavities.

Dolina is a word from the Slovenian language used in the Karst region to mean a valley. Since the study of surface karst phenomena developed precisely from observations made in this region, the term doline has come into universal use to indicate a karst valley.

This theory assumes a minimal collapse or even just a “chimney”, that is a vertical crack that over very long periods was corroded, eroded and widened more and more until it became a valley. The widening was helped by underground watercourses which, while carrying away the pebbles that rainwater dislodged from inside the chimney, at the same time corroded and crumbled the ceilings of their own channels, that is the base of the rock surrounding the chimney itself. At a certain point, the collapse happened as a consequence of the underground erosion.

Each of the two theories has its pros and cons, and there is no absolute certainty about the origin of the collapse valleys. One could even accept both and postulate two possible origins for these valleys.

In conclusion

In conclusion, the “Comole” of Castel Morrone are a treasure hidden in the heart of nature, offering a unique and fascinating adventure. Discovering these karst craters means immersing yourself in a world of emotions, breathtaking landscapes and encounters with wildlife. An adventurous journey that invites you to respect and preserve the fragile balance of this ecosystem, so that it can continue to enchant future generations with its unspoiled beauty.