01Onferno at a glance
A small Valconca municipality that is home to the Onferno nature reserve and its gypsum caves, where the largest bat colony in the region lives: an easy and unusual outing, half an hour from the sea.
From Hotel Viking, the Antonioli family's 3-star hotel in Viserbella di Rimini, it's 37.9 km to the caves, about 1 hour by car: set off after breakfast and you'll be back by the sea in the evening for our Romagna cooking. For more ideas, see our villages to visit in the hills page.
| Where | Grotte di Onferno (Onferno Caves) and Riserva naturale orientata di Onferno (Onferno nature reserve), Via Provinciale Onferno 50, Castello di Onferno, 47855 Gemmano (RN) |
|---|---|
| From the hotel by car | 37.9 km to the caves, about 1 hour |
| When to go | all year; spring for walking in the reserve, summer to see the big bat colony |
02History
- Gemmano stands at 404 metres above sea level in the middle Conca valley, looking towards the sea on one side and towards the lands of the Duchy of Urbino on the other.
- The area belonged to the archbishops of Ravenna. In 1356 Galeotto Malatesta seized it, and it stayed with the Malatesta until 1504, when it passed to the Church.
- The Castrum Inferni stood on the gypsum crag of Onferno. The name comes from the old belief that the cave was a gateway to hell, because of the vapours that came out of it. Local tradition also has it that Dante was inspired by these caves.
- The first scientific exploration of the caves was carried out by the naturalist Quarina in 1916.
- During the Second World War the village was razed to the ground in the battle of Gemmano, on the Gothic Line.
- The Riserva naturale orientata di Onferno was set up in 1991, and the Onferno gypsum is part of the UNESCO site Evaporitic Karst and Caves of Northern Apennines.
03What to see
The Grotte di Onferno are one of the most important gypsum karst cave systems in Italy. An ancient underground stream carved out meanders, large chambers and vaults hung with gypsum formations, cutting right through the crag the village stands on. Visits are always guided, with a helmet and lamp provided at the entrance, and start with a short walk down through the woods to the mouth of the cave.
The caves are home to the most important bat colony in the region: more than 6,000 bats of six protected species. They are at their most numerous in summer, when the females gather to give birth.
The Museo naturalistico (natural history museum) is in the old parish church of Santa Colomba, which has been fully restored. Display cases and interactive stations explain the geology of gypsum, the caves, and the plants and wildlife of the reserve. If you go into the caves, entry to the museum is included.
The Riserva naturale orientata di Onferno covers 274 hectares of woodland, calanchi (clay badlands) and gypsum outcrops. Marked trails cross it on foot, by bike or on horseback, and it is rich in birds of prey, roe deer and porcupines, with more than 400 plant species.
The little village of Onferno, gathered around an enclosed courtyard, has a lovely view from its small square over the Conca valley, with San Marino in the background and Sassofeltrio in the foreground.
On the hill of Gemmano is the Santuario della Madonna di Carbognano: it began around 1260 as a Franciscan convent on the remains of an ancient Roman temple and was dedicated to the Madonna in 1500. Between Gemmano and Montefiore lies the valley of the Ventena stream, a still wild corner with a good network of footpaths.
Sources: riviera.rimini.it · it.wikipedia.org · en.wikipedia.org · isprambiente.gov.it Information checked in October 2026.
04Festivals and food fairs
- Sagra della pappardella al cinghiale (wild boar pappardelle festival), the week of Ferragosto (15 August); in 2026: 12–15 August: Handmade pappardelle with wild boar sauce in the old centre of Gemmano, organised by the Pro Loco, with bands in the evening from 6pm.
Dates change every year, so always check before you set off. Sources: riviera.rimini.it
05Visitor information
The Grotte di Onferno are open all year for guided tours run by the La Nottola association. Booking by phone is recommended because places on each tour are limited. Tickets: full €10, reduced €8, including entry to the reserve, the visitor centre and the natural history museum (prices from the official Riviera di Rimini website, checked in October 2026). The tour takes about 90 minutes in summer and 60 in winter. Inside the cave the temperature stays at around 12-14 degrees all year and the ground is damp and slippery, so you'll need walking boots with a good tread and a light waterproof jacket. The route is not accessible to people with disabilities. Access may be suspended for a while to protect the wildlife or for maintenance. Tour days and times change through the year, so it's best to check before you go. Information and bookings: +39 389 199 1683, onferno@nottola.org, Facebook page Grotte di Onferno. By car from Rimini: take the SP 31 to Coriano, then the SP 18 towards Gemmano and follow the signs for Grotte di Onferno.
Opening times and prices may change: always check the official website before you go.
Sources: riviera.rimini.it · isprambiente.gov.it · monasteriemiliaromagna.it Information checked in October 2026.
06How to get there from Hotel Viking
By car: 37.9 km to the caves, about 1 hour. At reception we'll suggest the best route and where to park, and we can make you a packed lunch if you ask.
Your space back at the hotel stays free in our private car park, which is fenced and has CCTV. You'll find other places to see on the same day below.
07Nearby
All the villages on one page: villages to visit in the hills. For more ideas, see things to do in Rimini.
08What our guests say
What our guests say about their day trips.
Day trips
«You can book trips inland with the help of the reception staff»
Sea and hills
«great view from the balcony, towards the sea on one side and the hinterland on the other»
09FAQ
How much does it cost to visit the Grotte di Onferno, and when are they open?
The caves are open all year for guided tours. A full ticket costs €10 and a reduced ticket €8, and it also covers the reserve, the visitor centre and the museum. Tour times change with the season, so it's best to book on +39 389 199 1683 or email onferno@nottola.org.
How long does the cave tour take?
About 90 minutes in summer and 60 minutes in winter. If you also want to see the museum and the village and take a walk in the reserve, allow half a day.
What should I wear?
Inside the cave it's about 12-14 degrees all year and the ground is damp and slippery. You'll need walking boots with a good tread and a light waterproof jacket, even in midsummer. Helmets and lamps are provided at the entrance.
Will I really see bats?
Yes. The caves are home to more than 6,000 bats of six protected species, the most important colony in the region. There are many more in summer, and on the tour you watch them without disturbing them.
Are the caves suitable for children and people with disabilities?
The route is a light caving experience but well within reach of families, and the guides are used to young children. It is not accessible to people with disabilities, though, because the path and the cave are kept as natural as possible.
How far is Onferno from Hotel Viking?
37.9 km to the caves, about 1 hour by car from Viserbella di Rimini.
Where should I stay to visit Onferno?
Hotel Viking in Viserbella di Rimini is a 3-star hotel 150 metres from the sea, with a private car park, open all year and well placed for day trips.
