Posted
by Fulvio Sunday, Feb. 3, 2008

This wonderful adventure video, shot and produced by speleologist, Luca Cuttitta, takes you along on a typical exploration through tunnels, 2.000 year old Greek and even later Roman aqueducts and huge cisterns and caverns that snake in an incredible honeycomb beneath the city of Naples. The YouTube link is below. Our Webmaster, Fulvio Salvi, (NeandertalMan) the trim serious fellow with the glasses, as well as NUg explorers Zool and Cutter73 are featured in this fascinating video of a recent decent into the quarried and carved yellow volcanic tuf sandstone beneath the ancient city.

DEC Asks For Cavers' Help to Prevent Spread of "White Nose Syndrome"

Thousands of hibernating bats are dying in caves in New York and Vermont from unknown causes, prompting an investigation by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC), as well as wildlife agencies and researchers around the nation.

The most obvious symptom involved in the die-off is a white fungus encircling the noses of some, but not all, of the bats. Called "white nose syndrome," the fungus is believed to be associated with the problem, but it may not necessarily contribute to the actual cause of death. It appears that the impacted bats deplete their fat reserves months before they would normally emerge from hibernation, and die as a result.

Probably only in Naples, Italy would local emergency responders drill and rehearse how to extract victims who might fall down into the honeycomb of cavities, caverns, tunnels, aqueducts and passageways that run beneath the entire city. A special elite squad for doing just that is part of the Naples Fire Department. They are trained as well in mountain rescue, and using helicopters for rescues from sinking boats and other water emergencies.

This past December 21st, the Fire Department Squad, known as SAF-2B, or Underground, Mountain, and Water Rescue Team 2B, availed themselves of an offer by engineer Clemente Esposito, president of the Southern Speleological Society, to use the huge caverns, well shafts and tunnels which make up the Naples Museum of the Underground, which is operated by Esposito, for a real life drill site. Napoliunderground staff members, Fulvio and Luca accompanied the rescue team offering tips and advice, as well as photographing the entire mission. After a welcome and orientation to the underground area by Esposito, the 10 man team set about hooking up their highly specialized climbing and rappelling equipment. Strong steel bars were anchored at the top of a deep shaft used for the rescue scene.

Gorgs08, Vth International Canyoneering Meeting and II International Canyoneering Congress

The Comitè Canyon from FEEC (Federació d' Entitats Excursionistes de Cataluña) and the FCE (Federació Catalana d’Espeleologia), have already began working in the organization of the Vth edition of Gorgs, that shall take place at the end of May, in the area of Ports, Tarragona. Gorgs is the International Canyoneering Meeting event that was born in 2004 with the target of knowing the canyoneers, professionals and beginners, no exclusions.

Gorgs 2007 was a succes with 341 participants, it took place in Tremp (Lérida) and by the 1st time in Spain it was co organized with the FCE (Federació Catalana d’Espeleologia).

In parallel it will take place the II International CAnyoneering Congress, with a good number of proposals including technical and scientific conferences.They will take place during 23,24 and 25 May.

The dates to present proposals for projections, conferences,etc is already open. If you wish to participate please write to: barrancs@feec.org.

Posted by Larry Nov 4, 2007

Following the destructive earthquake in the Naples area in 1980, many ancient churches in the city were closed because of fear of structural damage. One particular church with a fascinating history was among those shuttered and abandoned. Located in the very center of the original city, this church, which will remain unnamed for reasons of security, has a long and mysterious history. It stands where a large private palace once stood in the 17th century. A noble Marquise owned the palace, and had decided to move to a newer part of Naples. A religious order bought his palace for 600 Ducats in 1601, and converted it to a small chapel and convent. Historians and archeologists knew that the elaborately decorated church was built incorporating parts of a grand old private palace, beneath which a private burial catacomb had been used dating at least to the mid 1500's. In 1640 the religious order acquired an adjoining palace and an atrium between the two buildings. An elaborate Rococo church was constructed over the site of the private underground cemetery. For the next three hundred years the elaborately decorated church and convent used the old cemetery for burial of clergy and members of the order.

After the earthquake of 1980 the church, like hundreds of other ancient buildings in Naples, suffered structural cracking and damage. The church was closed and abandoned. Pieces of the ornate facade and exterior began to crack off and plummet to the narrow street below creating a public hazard. Priceless paintings and ornamentation had been removed from the church and placed in museums and stop-gap measures were taken to shore up the exterior the church. The once famous church and convent with its mysterious underground burial chambers faded from memory as the once glorious structure faded into the background melding with the facades of the other centuries old buildings on the street.