A grotto is a small cave or a structure designed to resemble a cave. In both cases, the grotto is used by people for a variety of purposes. Natural caves which are not used by humans are generally just known as “caves.” Grottoes have been a source of interest for humans for centuries, and some very interesting archaeological finds have been made in grottoes all over the world.
In the sense of a natural cave, a grotto often appears near the ocean, reflecting the processes of erosion which slowly carve out caves from the shoreline. A seashore grotto may be partially flooded during high tide, and it often has an assortment of interesting sea creatures inside. Seashore grottoes appear in some mythologies, often as homes of gods or spirits, and people have historically used them as access points for seafood, and storage locations for various goods. Kayakers and divers sometimes enjoy visiting grottoes which are only accessible by water, as these sites are often relatively unspoiled, even in heavily populated areas.
Natural grottoes can also be found inland, often near rivers, lakes, and streams. In ancient times, people undoubtedly sheltered in grottoes, but they also attached religious and cultural significance to these small caves. Some cultures decorated the walls of their local grottoes, or filled them with statues, religious offerings, and other objects related to religious faith. High-ranking members of society might even be buried in grottoes, and the conditions in some grottoes have proved to be excellent for historic preservation, allowing modern humans to see examples of ancient art and burial traditions.
In the sense of an artificial cave, people have been making grottoes since at least Roman times. The Romans used grottoes to house religious artifacts, with some more pragmatic Romans viewing their grottoes as convenient storage locations for wine and other perishable goods. Larger artificial grottoes were also used for entertaining, which explains why some restaurants are known as “grottoes.”
Artificial grottoes are also used as garden features. A grotto may be utilized to display statues and other works of art, or it may be a feature of a waterfall of arrangement of plantings. Some garden grottoes are closer to buildings than caves. When the craze for grottoes was particularly widespread in the 1800s, people made elaborate grottoes for entertaining in lavish gardens, and some of these structures still exist today in antique gardens. Garden grottoes today are especially common in religious gardens, with the grotto being used to display religious icons or to house an altar.
