You had a special reverence for Postojna Cave even back in the day, when you were a child.

I come from village of Petelinje near Pivka (328 inhabitants, author’s note) and for me coming to Postojna Cave was a culture shock. When I got here, the world opened up to me. There were people from all over the world, speaking different languages, everyone dressed in their own way… I liked that. I felt it was a great privilege to be in the centre of all the action.

And how do you see Postojna Cave today?

No other cave is in the same position as ours. We’ve been taking admirers around the cave for 200 years. It’s not about a man-made product created for tourism twenty years ago. No other cave has the sort of infrastructure that we have here. There are no stairs, the footpath is horizontal, well-tended, wide, individual groups do not meet, you get to ride the cave train. In terms of logistics, Postojna Cave is pure perfectionism. It’s as if the cave was made to be admired and toured by visitors. 

Could you say that the Postojna Cave ‘made you’?

With the wisdom of hindsight, I can see how well organised we are. We have a 200-year-old identity. Who I am and the way I know how to stand in front of a visitor is the result of a long-established tradition. This system has shaped me. But if you come here without anybody teaching you, passing on knowledge to you, then that is like Legoland in Germany: a lot of people who have no idea what they are doing.  

What’s your favourite part of the cave or the thing you like most?

For me, the most beautiful part of the cave is between the Dance Hall and the Crossroads, as well as the top of the Great Mountain –  the Calvary, which is rarely open for regular tours. There, you can lean on the railing, look at the landscape full of cave formations and dream... When we get to the Brilliant, visitors often ask me how it is possible that two stalagmites standing next to each other are so different. “It’s a mystery of nature,” I like to point out. “Look at my eyes – side by side, but each its own colour. A miracle of nature.”

What makes a person a good fit to be a Postojna Cave guide?

The cave itself makes its selection: the ambience, working conditions and schedule are not for everyone. Even those of us who have been here for decades have been shaped by the cave and its dynamics. Each of us cave guides has our own theory. Some swear by a casual, fun approach, others by a more expert-based one, in fact, everyone goes through different stages. I am currently at a stage where I am aware that I have to ‘make visitors think’ with my interpretation and at the same time make sure they have enough time to come to their own conclusions. I have to give them the tools, but they have to use them themselves. There is no point in pointing out every single stalactite individually.

What’s the key piece of advice for future cave guides?

Don’t react too quickly. We often get rattled by things for no good reason. Three-quarters of problems resolve themselves.

These days, you are a guide for Italian-speaking visitors. What do you like most about your work?

The fact that it’s all very dynamic – there’s never a dull moment when it comes to Italians. When an Italian says, “Ho capito!”, I know he didn’t understand a single thing. (laughter) Often I have found it surprising that, despite being neighbours, Italians don’t know Slovenia as well as it deserves.

Postojna Cave guides are veritable influencers. You literally have your own followers.

(laughter) I was recently on a family trip to the Plitvice Lakes in Croatia. And there, in the middle of the lakes, there were tourists point at me, saying, “Questo è la nostra guida!”. I’ve had similar experiences elsewhere. I’ve had people tug at my sleeve in all sorts of places – I must have made an impression.

Last but not least, a serious question: what does Postojna Cave mean to you?

When it comes to this, I’m very pragmatic. But it all comes down to the fact that this is where I met my wife. She was a guide for French-speaking tours. You could say that the cave connects. It’s given me my livelihood and my life.