Revotano sinkhole

Revòtano is one of the most impressive karst sinkholes in central Italy. For centuries it was thought to be the crater of an extinct volcano, but it is actually a collapse doline, formed as a result of the dissolution of calcium carbonate caused by groundwater. This process created numerous underground cavities over time, which then collapsed under their own weight.

According to legend, the primitive village of Roccantica was located in this very area. However, due to the wickedness and lack of faith of the inhabitants, the village allegedly sank by divine will. Only one woman and her child were saved, as they had gone down to the stream below, the Scifulente, to wash clothes. A mysterious voice warned them of the impending danger with the phrase, “Run blonde, the earth is sinking!” Thanks to this warning, they managed to get to safety by fleeing to the hill where today’s Roccantica stands, thus giving rise to the new settlement.

Another legend, perhaps closer to reality, attributes the founding of the town to a man named Anticho, from whom the name “fundum Antiquum” or “rocha de Anticho” would derive.

Revòtano, with its fascinating history and legends, remains one of the most evocative and mysterious places in the area, attracting curious people and enthusiasts of geology and folklore.