Cave of Altamira and Paleolithic Cave Art of Northern Spain


Under the name Cave of Altamira and Paleolithic Cave Art of Northern Spain are grouped 18 caves of northern Spain, which together represent the apogee of Upper Paleolithic cave art in Europe between 35,000 and 11,000 years ago.
They have been collectively designated a World Heritage Site by the UNESCO in 2008.
Chief among these caves is Altamira, located within the town of Santillana del Mar in Cantabria. It remains one of the most important painting cycles of prehistory, originating in the Magdalenian and Solutrean periods of the Upper Paleolithic. This cave's artistic style represents the Franco-cantabrian school, characterized by the realism of its figural representation. Altamira Cave was declared a World Heritage Site in 1985.
In 2008 the World Heritage Site was expanded to include 17 additional caves located in three autonomous regions of northern Spain: Asturias, Cantabria and the Basque Country.

List of caves

CodeNameLocationCoordinatesBuffer zone
310-001Cueva de Altamira, Santillana del Mar16 ha
310-002Cueva de la Peña de Candamo, Candamo, San Román100 ha
310-003Cueva de Tito Bustillo, Ribadesella243 ha
310-004Cueva de La Covaciella, Cabrales11.3 ha
310-005Cueva de Llonín, Peñamellera Alta17.4 ha
310-006Cueva del Pindal, Ribadedeva69.4 ha
310-007Cueva de Chufín, Rionansa16.7 ha
310-008Cueva de Hornos de la Peña, San Felices de Buelna25 ha
310-009Cueva de El Castillo Puente Viesgo, Cantabria69 ha
310-010Cueva de Las Monedas, Puente Viesgo69 ha
310-011Cueva de La Pasiega, Puente Viesgo69 ha
310-012Cueva de Las Chimeneas Puente Viesgo69 ha
310-013Cueva de El Pendo, Camargo64 ha
310-014Cueva de La Garma, Ribamontán al Monte100 ha
310-015Cueva de Covalanas, Ramales de la Victoria1374 ha
310-016Cueva de Santimamiñe, Vizcaya, Cortézubi99 ha
310-017Cueva de Ekain, Guipúzcoa, Deva14.6 ha
310-018Cueva de Altxerri, Guipúzcoa, Aia15 ha