Discover seven wonders of underground Spain
Spain has incredible hidden spots and corners, tucked away underground, which harbour impressive natural gems. Discover the landscapes of underground Spain on a journey through impressive natural caves, ancient mines, rivers, lakes, wineries and other unique spaces that hold secrets steeped in history and mystery.
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Navigate through an underground river alongside prehistoric paintings
Can you imagine going into the depths of 250-million-year-old caves and sailing down the river in a kayak? In La Vall d'Uxó, in the province of Castellón, the Caves of San José, located in the heart of the Sierra de Espadán Natural Park, hide within them one of the longest navigable underground rivers in Europe. Measuring 2,750 meters in length, the origin of this natural gem is still unknown. On a journey through its crystal-clear waters, you'll discover wonders such as the Blue Pond; the Bat Room; the Boca del Forn; the Diana and Devil's Lakes; and formations such as the Medusa and the Flower Waterfall. Furthermore, the most surprising feature is its prehistoric paintings and engravings dating back to the Upper Paleolithic, more than 15,000 years ago.
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Discover an auditorium in a volcanic cave in the Canary Islands
Jameos del Agua is one of those rare natural phenomena that stands out as much for its geological interest as for its history, beauty and culture. Transformed into an art centre by César Manrique in 1977, the space reflects the philosophy of the Canarian artist: Total harmony with nature. The experiences offered by this cave, a product of the eruption of the La Corona volcano 5,000 years ago on the Canary Island of Lanzarote, are unique. The space is formed by three jameos or cavities that emerged from the lava tube. Enjoy a nice meal at a restaurant, where you can savour typical local products and Lanzarote wines, admire a crystal-clear lagoon, and even go to a concert or theatre performance in a natural auditorium with sublime acoustics. Its volcanic ecosystem includes some 77 endemic species of great scientific interest, including the famous blind crab, an endangered species and a symbol of the centre.
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Visit the seventh longest cave in the world
The Caves of L’Espluga de Francolí, in Tarragona, are rock formations of great geological and anthropological interest. In addition to being the seventh longest cave in the world, it preserves Paleolithic engravings dating back more than 36,000 years. For the more adventurous, these caves also offer an adventure route for caving across the underground river, where visitors can learn about the geological formation of the caves, the water currents and the wells that contributed to their rediscovery.
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Civil War air raid shelters
In Spain there are many air raid shelters built during the Civil War. Almería is one of the cities that preserves the largest number of underground spaces. Part of the shelters designed in 1937 by local architect Guillermo Langle has been renovated and can be visited on a nearly one-kilometre long tour, right below Almería's iconic city promenade. Barrel-vaulted rooms and recreated spaces such as a pantry or an operating room, complete with all the medical instruments of the era, will allow you to travel back in time.
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Underground silos of Toledo
Did you know that some silos were built more than four centuries ago in Villacañas, Toledo? These are dwellings dug about four meters below ground level, intended for farm workers. Villacañas Ethnographic Museum offers an exceptional display of the popular architecture from the 17th to the 20th century, consisting of houses without roofs or partitions, with a single bedroom, kitchen, stable, hayloft, chicken coop, a skylight and a false vertical window that allowed the passage of air and light. The limestone soil of the area provided these unusual homes with a pleasant and constant temperature throughout the year.
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Caving adventure in Cantabria
Just 20 kilometres from the fishing village of San Vicente de la Barquera in Cantabria, the El Soplao Cave is an example of how nature can sculpt the underground world into beautiful shapes. It is a living scene of stalactites and stalagmites that act as stars in this underground universe. For the more intrepid, El Soplao offers a guided adventure tour to discover the cave in its natural state, with a complete lack of light and walking on its uneven floor. You'll explore three kilometres of beautiful and valuable trails, including the original La Isidra mining gallery, known by internationally renowned scientists and geologists as the “Sistine Chapel of speleology.”
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Underground wineries in Castile and León
In the province of León, the municipality of San Adrián del Valle is home to one of the largest underground wineries in Europe. We are talking about Bodega Doña Rosa, a winery with over 6,000 square metres of excavated wine cellars. Visit the passageways of the old carts and see some of the huge and impressive American oak vats. In addition, the network of underground wineries in Aranda de Duero, in the province of Burgos, gives you the opportunity to taste magnificent wines from the local Ribera del Duero designation of origin. You can also visit its galleries, stretching up to four kilometres and 12 metres beneath the old town, which date back to the 12th and 18th centuries.
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