CAVE OF LA VIEJA DE ALPERA

Google Maps:
39.001709, -1.242298

Type of site:
Rock-Shelters

Place of location: El Bosque
Village/Town: Alpera
Municipality: Alpera (Albacete)
Region: Castilla-La Mancha
State: Spain
Telephone: (+34) 967 330 555
Website: https://cultura.castillalamancha.es/patrimonio/yacimientos-visitables/arte-rupestre-en-alpera
E-mail: biblioteca@casaculturaalpera.e.telefonica.net

Natural Environment:

Limestone crags, Mediterranean woodland and farmland.

Archaeological evidences in the site:

Levantine and Schematic rock art. The cave paintings found in the municipality of Alpera (Albacete) belong to the Levantine and Schematic art cycles, and the evidence of Levantine art is exceptionally abundant and representative. There are several caves and shelters in the area that contain these paintings (Cueva del Queso, Los Carasoles del Bosque 1 and 2 and La Cueva de la Vieja), the latter being currently open to visitors.

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Opening Times:

La Vieja Cave is the only site open to the public. https://www.alpera.es/turismo/lugares-de-interes/81-la-cueva-de-la-vieja

Booking and access:

Call (+ 34) 967 330 555

Nearby cultural destinations:

Between Alpera and Almansa: Castelar de Meca (Iberian settlement and later Roman occupations, with ruins of walls, houses, water tanks and a long cart track excavated in the rock. In Alpera, Pocico de la Nieve. Towns of Almansa and Chinchilla. https://www.alpera.es/turismo/lugares-de-interes

Nearby natural destinations:

In Alpera, La Mejorada Park. In Higueruela, Salobrejo Lake. In Petrola, Salada Lake. In Almansa, Sierra de Mugrón and Sierra de Almansa. In Caudete, Sierra Oliva. https://www.alpera.es/turismo/rutas-y-naturaleza

Accommodations (Tourism Website):
https://www.alpera.es/turismo/alojamiento / http://www.turismocastillalamancha.es/alojamientos/
Restaurants (Tourism Website):
https://www.alpera.es/turismo/restaurantes-y-bares / http://www.turismocastillalamancha.es/restaurantes/

Age of the artistic representations:

9000 to 3500 years ago.

General description of the destination:

La Vieja or Venado Cave, Cheese Cave, Los Carasoles Rock-shelter or Fuente de la Arena. Levantine rock art, and a UNESCO World Heritage site. One of the most representative groups of Levantine rock art, with human and animal figures, hunting scenes and enigmatic abstract shapes. La Vieja Cave is the only site open to the public. It is a journey through all the themes and styles of Levantine art, in over a hundred figures we can see human figures (both men and women), animals, both figurative and schematic images and abstract motifs.

History of the site:

Discovered in 1910 by Pascual Serrano, it was made known a few years later by the researchers Henri Breuil, Juan Cabré and the discoverer himself. The first studies were published in a prestigious French magazine and thus achieved a notable international diffusion. The recognition of its value as a prehistoric artistic enclave was ratified in 1924 when it was declared a National Historic and Artistic Monument. The latest study has been conducted by Anna Alonso and Alexandre Grimal, who have published two books. In 1998 it was declared World Heritage, within the UNESCO declaration granted to http://www.arterupestre.es/ .

Museographic resources description:

https://www.alpera.es/turismo/lugares-de-interes/81-la-cueva-de-la-vieja