The Diru Cave is one of the most beautiful places on earth, also called the entrance to the underworld of Hades. This dungeon has left no one indifferent, and explorations of its vast territory continue to this day. The kaleidoscope of colorful stalactites and stalagmites, marvelous lakes and rock paintings are the stuff of legends. All this inspires the many tourists who come to Mani Peninsula all year round.
Diru is an underground wonder that is the main attraction of the Mani Peninsula. This place attracts many tourists, speleologists and other scientists like a magnet. The cave is famous for its amazing views and underground lakes, the largest of which is Pirgos Mani.
Without exaggeration, Diru can be called the largest cave not only in Europe, but also in the world. It was formed hundreds of thousands of years ago, although people ventured down here only in 1949, as the locals were convinced that this place had a "bad" reputation.
At that time, when the sea level was lower, numerous stalactites and stalagmites have formed in the caves, now hidden by water at a depth of more than 70 meters.
The cave got its name from the bay of the same name, where one of the natural entrances to the "kingdom of the underground lord" is located. Near the cave, archaeologists found traces of our ancestors who lived in the Neolithic period, as well as the remains of wild animals. By the way, the bones of one of them belong to a long extinct species of hippopotamus. Now a museum exposition is being prepared based on excavations. The exposition will include valuable finds from the dungeon: petroglyphs, household items, weapons, jewelry and other things left by ancient people in these places.
Two types of tours of the cave are available for tourists: on foot and by boat. Walking will have to overcome 200-800 meters of the path, which runs through the marvelous grottoes. Boat trip on the huge underground lake lasts about half an hour. The total kilometrage of the route is 1200 meters. Each room of the Diru is equipped with lighting, which creates a special magical atmosphere and allows in some places to see the bottom through the crystal clear waters of the lake.
As if behind the scenes of a fantastic movie, you will visit the underground halls of the cave. Each of them has a bizarre name, such as the hall of "UFO", "Silver Rain", etc. A journey through the water will give you an encounter with Lake Okeanides, the Dream Corridor and the Pillars of Hercules.
Each meter of the underground world, created by nature itself, will surprise and delight, not allowing time to catch your breath from the overflowing emotions. Sitting in the boat, caught by the underground current, you will feel as if you are in a fairy tale, and the sight of stalactite and stalagmite paintings of different colors will literally take your breath away. Green, yellow, red, blue - all of them in their own amazing and incredible so that no camera can not convey exactly their beauty.
The world of Diru Cave is rich and unpredictable. The narrow openings are replaced by spacious underground halls, on the walls of which the reflections of the lakes shimmer. It seems that pirates are about to appear around the corner, a mermaid dives out of the water, and the treasure chest is sure to be hidden around the next corner. In places where there is no lighting, and the vaults of the cave are kept on the columns of natural origin, it becomes especially creepy. At such moments, you understand the locals, who have long been wary of entering here, lest they get lost forever in the countless labyrinths.
At the exit of the cave tourists will find a small beach, where they can refresh themselves after the long road and digest what they have seen in the underground.
Everyone who has been to the underground world of the Diru Cave is unanimous in the opinion that it is an incredible sight, worthy of admiration to the square degree. This dungeon could safely claim to be the eighth wonder of the world. But even without these regalia, it is worth planning a trip to Greece just to see this wonder with your own eyes.
It is quite chilly in the Diru underground, so it is worth bringing warm sweatshirts so as not to get sick from the sudden change in temperature, especially if you are traveling with children. For them to enter the cave will cost 7 euros, for adults - 12 euros.
The best way to Dirou Cave is to start from the town of Areopolis on the Mani Peninsula. There are regular buses from Athens (distance about 270 km). Then you have to drive to Pyrgos Dirou Bay, where you can reach the cave. If you go by car, there is parking at the entrance of Diru.
