Cave sights in Spain
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A
Apes' Den
The Rock's most famous inhabitants are the tailless Barbary Macaques, the only free-living primates in Europe. Some of the 240 apes hang around the Apes' Den near the middle cable-car station; the others can often be seen at the top cable-car station and the Great Siege Tunnels. Legend has it that when the apes (which may have been introduced from north Africa in the 18th century) disappear from Gibraltar, so will the British.
When numbers were at a low ebb during WWII, the British brought in simian reinforcements from Africa. Recently, however, their numbers have been increasing rapidly and a range of control measures from contraceptive implants to 'translocation' to Eur…
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Gitanos
Fancy some fresh air? Then make your way up to the Sacromonte district (up Granada's sacred mountain) to the cave-dwelling neighbourhood of gitanos (Roma). Once deemed a danger to public order and still largely on society's margins except for the area of music (mainly flamenco), the gitanos probably started inhabiting the caves before the 14th century. General poverty made many poor peasants who'd come to live in Granada move to the caves in the 19th century.
To this day, 80 percent of the caves are inhabited, and you'd be surprised at how flashy some of them are. But be advised: don't accept invitations to look at a private house (unless you know the person) since a heft…
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B
St Michael's Cave
If you walk for around twenty minutes, south down St Michael's Rd from the top cable-car station (or up from the Apes' Den), St Michael's Cave is a big natural grotto that was once home to Neolithic inhabitants of the Rock. Today, apart from attracting tourists in droves, it's used for concerts, plays, even fashion shows. There's a café outside.
From the top cable-car station, you can see Morocco in clear weather. About 20 minutes walk south down St Michael's Road (or 20 minutes up from the Apes' Den), St Michael's Cave is a big impressive natural grotto that was once home to Neolithic inhabitants of the Rock. Today it's used for concerts, plays and even fashion shows.
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Cueva de la Pileta
Palaeolithic paintings of horses, goats, fish and even a seal, dating from 20,000 to 25,000 years ago, are preserved in this large cave, 20km southwest of Ronda. You’ll be guided by kerosene lamp and one of the knowledgeable Bullón family from the farm in the valley below. A family member found the paintings in 1905. The Cueva de la Pileta is 250m (signposted) off the Benaoján–Cortes de la Frontera road, 4km from Benaoján. Guides speak a little English. If it’s busy, you may have to wait, but you can phone ahead to book a particular time.
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C
Cova de Can Marçà
A turn-off to the right just before Port de Sant Miquel takes you around a headland to the Cova de Can Marçà, underground caverns spectacularly lit by coloured lights. Tours in various languages take around 30 to 40 minutes. After resurfacing, pause for a drink on its terrace and savour the panorama of sheer cliffs and deep blue water.
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Coves d’Artà
The Coves d’Artà are on the coast, 11km southeast of Artà at the limit of the Ma4042. Tours of the caves leave every 30 minutes.
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