The Caves Of Nerja, An Underground Treasure
The Nerja Caves are a fabulous complex of two caves that are just over 4 kilometers long. You can visit them if you escape one day to this Andalusian city. Its history is fascinating and you will be able to discover an underground paradise as soon as you arrive at this magical place. But first, we want to show you what they are like. Ready to delve deep into the earth?
History of the caves of Nerja
The Nerja caves were discovered by chance on January 12, 1959 by a group of five young people from the municipality who were hunting bats. When entering a well known then as La Mina they noticed a small air current and saw a hole covered by two stalactites that gives access to the cave chambers.
Once inside, they could see that they were not the first to have been in this cavity. Very surprised, they found skeletons lying next to some ceramic bowls. Quite scared, they decided to go back and tell everything they saw to family, friends and teachers.
In the cave some paintings of seals were discovered that for some could be the first known work of art in the history of mankind, at 42,000 years old. Today this place is a Historic-Artistic Monument and an Asset of Cultural Interest, thanks to its wealth of heritage.
On the other hand, the Nerja caves also comprise the upper gallery and the new one, which were discovered in 1960 and 1969, respectively, and are still closed to the public.
What to visit inside the caves?
The tourist route through the caves of Nerja leads through different rooms. The so-called Cataclysm Room is the most spectacular. The reason? An impressive stalactite that has a height of 33 meters and a base of 13 × 7 meters. In fact, this is why it was included in the Guinness Book.
The cave even has its own viewpoint in the Elephant Room, which leads to a room that offers fabulous views of the stalactites and stalagmites that line the ceilings and floors and make this cave an almost fantastic place.
The caves and their inhabitants
We have already pointed out that interesting prehistoric remains have been found in these caves. Well, in the first chamber, that of the Vestibule, there is an archaeological site and a display case with panels of paintings, human remains and tools found in the cave. Specifically, there are more than twenty paintings dating from the Aurignacian period.
In the Sala de la Torca it is possible to admire anthropomorphic cave paintings, while in the Sala de los Ghosts, symbolic and animal representations predominate. The Bethlehem Room witnesses the burial of a woman from 6,300 BC
And, returning to the Cataclysm Room, you can see the trace of a seismic shock that took place 800,000 years ago in the region. Meanwhile, from the Altas y Nuevas galleries, the Hall of the Columns of Hercules stands out, where the Paleolithic men left their legacy in the cave paintings that decorate the walls.
Types of cave visits
Various types of visits are offered to tour the Nerja cave. The normal visit includes a ten minute audiovisual projection showing some spectacular details of the cave in great detail. There is also a more detailed 45-minute guided tour for true adventurers.
The grotto also serves social uses, since the local music and dance festivals are represented in the Cascada or Ballet Hall. So, if you have the possibility of visiting this place on the dates of these events, don’t let it escape.
The first inhabitants of the peninsula chose this cave as a place to reside, die and express their art. If they didn’t hesitate in that choice, you shouldn’t either. Choose Nerja as your next destination and enjoy an unforgettable experience. Do not forget that the caves are located in a privileged enclave, so your visit to this underground place will not be the only adventure that awaits you.
