Gran Sasso National Laboratory (INFN-LNGS) is located in the Gran Sasso massif in the province of L’Aquila, Italy. It is the largest underground laboratory in the world and it is operated by the INFN (Istituto Nazionale di Fisica Nucleare). The laboratory’s main purpose is to perform research in particle physics and astroparticle physics.
The facility is located 1,400 metres below ground, inside the mountain. This provides a natural shield from cosmic rays, which allows for sensitive measurements to be made. The laboratory has been operational since 1989 and hosts a number of experiments, most notably the OPERA experiment, which observed neutrinos travelling faster than light.
In addition to its research role, the laboratory also provides training for young scientists and engineers.