They are located 2 km from the urban heart of Santillana del Mar, belongs to the Autonomous Community of Cantabria. In addition, it was declared a World Heritage Site by the UNESCO in 1985, receiving the nickname of the Sistine Chapel of cave art. Between 1868 and 1879, the famous Altamira Cave Impressive engravings made by Homo Sapiens, belonging to the Upper Paleolithic, mostly from the Magdalenian period and some from the Solutrean.
Over time, to preserve these valuable works of rock art, access to the original cave was restricted. Therefore, an exact and elaborate replica was built, allowing the cave art to be enjoyed without damaging the authentic legacy.
The paintings of the Solutrean period, executed in monochrome red, represent figures of horses, a goat, hands rendered in negative and other forms not yet identified. The impressive works of the Magdalenian, about 14,500 years ago, are attributed to Polychrome Ceiling: A scene of a group of bison, a doe, horses, a possible figure of a wild boar, and various symbols still under study. In the deepest and narrowest gallery, known as the Horsetail, there are new figures of horses, deer, bison, and curious abstract forms called "tectiforms."
What makes exceptional Altamira It is not only the antiquity of his works, but the technical mastery with which they were created: integrated compositions with multiple animals, the natural relief of the rocks and the use of two pigments: carbon black and oxide red, which generate light and shadow effects.
A unique and artistic style of our ancestors, which continues to illuminate the world from the depths of the earth.
Location: Avenida Marcelino Sanz de Sautuola, s/n, 39330 Santillana del Mar, Cantabria. Approximately from our inn it is 36 minutes (49.2 km)
Schedules: From May to October:
- Tuesday to Saturday from 9:30 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.
- Sundays and Holidays from 9:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Rates: For more information, please contact this address: https://www.cultura.gob.es/mnaltamira/visita/compra-entradas.html