On Sunday, 23 March 2025, from 9.30 a.m. to 12.30 p.m., a geocaching event was held between Gropada and nearby hill Gaia, on the Trieste Karst, for children and young people, accompanied by their families, to learn about the geodiversity of the Karst.
The participants, with the help of a map, had the task of identifying the route, along which they could observe, take measurements and solve various geological-themed quizzes. The start was in the centre of the village, at the headquarters of the SKD SKALA Club, in Gropada. From there, the geo-explorers set off in search of ancient wells and rainwater collection tanks. Then, wandering along forest paths, they went in search of areas rich in spectacular karst phenomena, particularly visible in this season because they are not masked by vegetation. Among them was a solution pit, which has been nicknamed a “holy-water font” by geologists and hikers due to its large and unusual shape. At the end of the geological exploration, they returned to the starting point where the Curiosi di natura geopark guides corrected the answers and handed out the prizes. Considering the constantly rainy weather on the previous day, which had discouraged participation, the result was satisfactory: 14 children accompanied by their families, a total of over thirty people from Italy and Slovenia.
Organizers: Geological Service of the Autonomous Region of Friuli Venezia Giulia (Servizio geologico della Regione Autonoma Friuli Venezia Giulia) and Curiosi di natura
The event was part of the strategic project KRAS-CARSO II, co-financed by the European Union in the framework of the Interreg VI-A Italy-Slovenia 2021-2027 Programme.
