Cosmopolitan Spain Traveler Summer 2018

Cosmopolitan Spain Traveler

Nature

Known locally as "La Montaña", magnificent mountains, as well as splendid valleys, mighty rivers, steep cliffs, and prehistoric caves are a constant presence in Cantabria. When you get to Cantabria you are surrounded by beautiful landscapes. It is essential to visit Cabárceno Nature Park, Fuente Dé cable car in the Picos de Europa mountains, and, for nature and hiking lovers, the Naturea Cantabria routes .

Reproduction of a bison of the cave of Altamira Image courtesy of National Museum and Research Center of Altamira

Cave of Altamira

Can I visit the actual cave? While a scale replica is open to the pub- lic, access to the actual Altamira Cave is limited for preventive conservation and accessibility. Once per week five lucky individuals are selected via a lottery system. The visit is carried out under a strict protocol of clothing and lighting, and with defined route and stay times for each area of the cave. The visit takes place every Friday at 10:40 a.m. Anyone over 16 who is visiting the museum between 9:30 and 10:00 am that same day may participate in the selection process. Upon arrival at the museum, the application form is provided as well as the conditions which must be accepted.

Cantabria is rich in archaeological sites of the Upper Palaeolithic (between 50,000 and 10,000 years ago) with more than 6,500 caves. The peculiar geographical location of Cantabria has favored the formation of caves where prehistoric men settled. In 1985, one such example, the Cave of Altamira, located in Santillana del Mar, was designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. In 2008, seventeen caves with Paleolithic artwork, scattered in the Santander province and the autonomous community of Cantabria, were added to the distinction under the title Cave of Altamira and Paleolithic Cave Art of Northern Spain, and are considered to be humanity’s earliest example of art.

In the background, Peaks of Europe

More Information: www.mecd.gob.es/mnaltamira/en/

Image courtesy of the Gov’t of Cantabria

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