The Stiffe Grottoes and Presepe (Nativity Display)
The Stiffe grottoes are in the town
of San Demetrio ne' Vestini in the province of
L'Aquila (Italian region of Abruzzo), 90 km/55
miles east-northeast of Rome. The grottoes are
centered on the Monte Velino and Monte Sirente
massifs and are part of the
Sirente-Velino Regional Nature Park. Much of
the area is characterized by karst formations;
that is, well-developed limestone solution
landforms. They typically produce caverns,
grottoes, features such as stalactites and
stalagmites and have extensive underground
drainage systems, often including subterranean
pools and flowing streams. (Also see Karst Caves and Caving
in Southern Italy.) The Stiffe grottoes
are what is called a “resurgence,” that is, a
point at which an underground stream emerges
(pictured), usually where it encounters
impermeable rock after having flowed through
permeable strata. In this case, that spot is
the high point of the ravine overlooking the
small town of Stiffe. The water is of such a
volume that the resulting falls are quite
audible and overflow into the valley. There is
some documentation that the grottoes and falls
were known even in ancient times. The water
flow was strong enough to allow the
construction of a hydroelectric plant at the
beginning of the 20th century; it was
destroyed in WWII and has not been rebuilt.
A tourist organization called,
simply, “Grotte di Stiffe” was formed in 1991.
As a result, the first installation of a presepe —a
Nativty manger scene, the most characteristic
of all Italian Christmas symbols— took place
in 1994. The presepe stays in place
from December 8 through January 6; that is,
from the feast days of Corpus domini
through Epiphany. Typically, the area leading
up to the grotto entrance is adorned with
traditional presepe figures such a
shepherds and even Roman soldiers carrying out
the census (“In those days Caesar Augustus
issued a decree that a census should be taken
of the entire Roman world. And everyone went
to their own town to register.” - Luke:2-3)
The figures for the presepe are made
by local artisans.
