Page 60 - Spanish Insight - August 2019

The Nerja Caves

– the caves of wonder

By Spanish Insight Reader Deanne Dutton
We have frequently visited beautiful Nerja we took in the emotive sculptures, the first
enjoying the food, shops and spectacular to commemorate the discovery of the Caves
coastline from the Balcón de Europa ‘Balcony in 1959 and the second to honour the local
of Europe’. A relaxing stroll along the Balcón resident who first photographed the caves.
brings you to a sculpture commemorating Discovered by five local boys on an adventure
the discovery of Nerja Caves. Just a short of bat hunting at a pothole know as ‘La
walk away, off the top left corner of Plaza de Mina’, the boys watched creatures exiting
España, is the Nerja museum. Open daily, the a hole in the rock and decided to return the
museum sells tickets and offers discounts next day with some tools. On return they
to the museum, caves and tourist train. The removed stalactites creating an entrance that
museum retells the town’s history including descended into a huge cavern containing
the caves from Palaeolithic dwellers and ceramic pottery and skeletons. The historical
1960s tourism, up to the present day. value of the discovery became apparent,
when a photographer and medical expert
visited the caves; skeletal remains indicate to visitors offering information on the caves
the caves were inhabited from about 25,000 in four languages. Special tours are also
BC. In 1960 the caves opened to the public available to the restricted areas including: The
and it remains to this day one of Spain’s major Secrets of the Caves, The Discovery Tour and
natural tourist attractions. a Night Tour.

As we exited the Caves we were greeted
by our photo taken at the entry point, very
reasonably priced and a wonderful reminder
of our experience to take home! I think you
will agree that no trip to Málaga is complete
without a visit to Nerja caves.

SPANISH INSIGHT’S NOTE: We thank
Deanne for the lovely account of her journey,
describing our attraction yet not giving
away too much! This year marks the 60th
anniversary of the Nerja International Music
and Dance Festival. Events took place inside
the caves and the outside surrounding
Upon arrival at the Cave entry point we queued gardens with special concerts. That’s two
up and the first thing that happened was a reasons to visit this fantastic famous local
photo (just of you and your companions), we attraction. Since opening in 1960 hundreds
were then issued with a listening device which of thousands visit the caves and are stunned
offered many languages and took a seat to by its natural beauty. On Sunday mornings
watch the safety instructions and general throughout the year, entry to the Nerja Caves
Boarding the tourist train connecting Nerja guidelines about behaviour within the Caves. is free for residents of Nerja. The Caves are
with the caves through beautiful scenery, Soon it was our turn to venture into the caves, open every day of the year except for January
one cannot help feeling nostalgic of youth. earpiece in place we started our little journey 1 and May 15. Telephone +34 952 529 520.
We were dropped off just outside the caves and were greeted by the splendour of the Ctra. de Maro, s/n, Urb. Cueva de Nerja, 3
complex entrance with time to take in our Sala de Vestibulo, the Entrance Hall. Walking - 29787 Nerja, Málaga. General Hours: From
breath-taking surroundings of the outskirts on through more halls that make up the first of January 1 to June 22 and from September
of Maro village, Sierra Almijara, Tejeda and three galleries, a cave of wonders continued 9 to December 31: from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30
Alhama natural park. On the left is an entry to unfold, with every step I was greeted by p.m. (Last session at 15:36). Special Hours:
point to the natural park, with marked hiking further natural phenomena. From June 23 to September 8, Easter and
trails to El Cielo and a picnic/barbecue area at Thursday to Sunday: from 9:30 a.m. to 7:00
El Pinarillo. Within the caves complex is a bar/ The coolness of the Cave was a welcome p.m. (Last session at 18:00).
restaurant where we enjoyed refreshments as relief from the humidity of outside, and led
to a pleasant exploration as we followed the
man-made path and steps into huge caverns
with spectacular stalagmites. One of the
most spectacular sights met us in Sala del
Cataclismo, Hall of the Cataclysm, where the
world’s largest stalagmite stood in a 32 metre
high centre column. While the Rincón del
Órgano, Organ Corner, mystified my love of
history and music, as the fluted columns in the
hall when struck produce musical notes; were
we experiencing early prehistoric inhabitants’
alterations to create music? Finally, in the Sala
de la Cascada o Ballet, Hall of the Waterfall
or Ballet my decision to return to the caves
was sealed, to see a future concert held in the
summer within the hall. A free app is available
60 Spanish Insight September 2019