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Contact Address:
Zona
Cuevas de Altamira, 39330
Santillana (Cantabria)
Tel. +34 942818005 Tel. +34 942818815 / Fax +34 942840157
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Important examples of prehistoric rock art.
The paintings are some 14,000 years old and have the World Heritage designation.
The cave has an irregular shape and is some 270 metres in length. It has an entrance hall, main gallery and side hall. They contain some of the best examples of prehistoric rock art. The drawings are some 14,000 years old and show bison, deer, boar, horses… They are painted using natural, red-coloured ochre and outlined in black. To ensure their conservation, the cave structure and paintings have been painstakingly reproduced at the Altamira Museum’s Neo-cave, using the same painting procedures. Here, visitors can admire from close up the great ceiling with its polychromed bison and visit the painters’ workshop, where they explain the techniques used to create this masterpiece of rock art.
 | | | | Type of monument: Prehistoric cave. | | | Origin: Prehistory. | | | Period: Prehistory. | | | Style: Prehistory. | |
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 | UNESCO
World Heritage | | (Year of registration: 1985) |
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| Information for visits | |
| Timetables: The caves are closed to visitors. Visits to the Altamira Museum: 1 May to 30 October, Tuesday-Saturday, 9.30am-8pm. Sundays and public holidays, 9.30am-3pm. 1 November to 30 April, Tuesday-Saturday, 9.30am-6pm. Sundays and public holidays, 9.30am-3pm. Closed: Mondays, 1 and 6 January, 1 May, 15 September and 24, 25 and 31 December.
Entry fee:
Altamira Museum: General admission: €3.00. Reduced: €1.50 (students over 18 years, with ID). Free: (retired persons, over 65s, under 18s); Saturdays from 2.30pm, Sundays (all day), 12 October, 6 December and 18 May. Advance bookings: Banco SCH Bank, 4B Cashpoints
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| Must see...... | | | | The famous polychromed bison is particularly outstanding. It is painted with relief making use of protuberances in the rock. A reproduction of the paintings can be seen in the Neo-cave.
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| Surrounding area... | | | | The town of Santillana del Mar is 2 kilometres away, with major historical-cultural attractions.
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