This location is #45 on our Best Travel Destinations In Greece & Greek Islands Map!
Petralona Cave, located on the Chalkidiki peninsula in Greece, is a stunning karst formation situated about 984 feet above sea level on the western slope of Mount Katsika, roughly 0.6 miles east of the village of Petralona and 22 miles southeast of Thessaloniki. Spanning an area of approximately 111,945 square feet, the cave features a network of corridors stretching about 1.2 miles in length. Its interior maintains a stable temperature of around 63°F year-round, creating a comfortable environment for exploration. The cave is renowned for its breathtaking stalactite and stalagmite formations, which resemble giant cacti, pink pearls, and delicate curtains, often colored reddish by bauxite deposits, earning it the local nickname “the red-rock cave.” Visitors can explore a 2,297-foot accessible path, marveling at chambers like the “Great Hall” and “Room of the White Coral,” connected by galleries and narrow tunnels.
Discovered accidentally in 1959 by a local shepherd, Filippos Hantzaridis, who was searching for a water source, Petralona Cave gained global attention in 1960 when a fossilized human skull, estimated to be around 700,000 years old, was found. This skull, belonging to an early hominin, possibly a transitional form between Homo erectus and Homo sapiens, is one of the oldest human remains discovered in Europe. The cave also contains traces of some of the earliest known human-lit fires, dating back approximately 1 million years, alongside stone and bone tools that reveal insights into the technology and diet of prehistoric inhabitants. The “Cemetery of Giants” within the cave holds fossils of extinct animals, including lions, hyenas, bears, panthers, elephants, rhinos, and various species of deer, birds, rodents, and bats, making it one of Europe’s richest paleontological sites.
The cave’s geological and historical significance is matched by its archaeological treasures, which provide a window into the Pleistocene era’s environment and climate. Formed in Mesozoic limestone, the cave’s 28 stratigraphic layers have been meticulously studied, offering clues about the region’s prehistoric landscape and the lifestyle of early humans who used it as a shelter. Excavations, which began systematically in 1965, uncovered not only the famous skull but also a wealth of paleontological evidence, including remains of 25 bird species, 16 rodent species, and 17 bat species. The cave’s Anthropological Museum, located nearby, displays over 2,500 artifacts, including replicas of the skull and reconstructions of ancient human life, allowing visitors to explore the evolution of humanity and the region’s prehistoric biodiversity.
