The Roman caves, probably excavated during the imperial age, are situated towards the middle of the road from Massignano to Poggio; they were quarries dug by slaves. It is thought that from the bowels of the caves came out the stone blocks with which the Poggio, Massignano and some monuments and churches of Ancona (perhaps even San Ciriaco) were built.
Entering the quarry, which has been excavated uphill – probably to prevent rain from entering – you can still recognize the signs of the chisels and picks on its walls; being inside Monte Conero the temperature is higher than outside and you can feel the heat. Some Greek inscriptions have also been found inside some recesses dug along the way, which, according to some studies, can be traced back to indications left by those who worked in the quarry to indicate the site or construction to which the block of stone extracted in that area was intended.
In about 10 minutes you get to the bottom of the cave and the excavations that end, after crossing even narrow passages, with a small "room" where some writings left by the partisans during the Second World War were found. A journey through history.
An ancient legend tells that the caves dug by Roman slaves hid a treasure that no one has ever sought because it was guarded by the souls of all the dead stone quarrymen in that place.
