The town of Nerja is situated approximately 55 kilometres from the city of Malaga, and just 3 kilometres from the town centre is where you will find a natural marvel so impressive that it has been recognised as a historical and artistic monument. Wherever you might be staying in the province of Malaga, a visit to the spectacle at the caves of Nerja is an absolute ‘must’.
Nerja Caves were discovered on the 12th January 1959 by a group of schoolboys who were hunting for bats. Although it is highly unlikely that they appreciated the significance of their find at the time, it did in fact prove the existence of human beings in the area more than 20,000 years ago. Skeletal remains found in the caverns show that they were inhabited from around 25,000BC up until the Bronze Age, and the cave paintings that were found are the only known examples from the Upper Palaeolithic Age, between 10 and 50,000 years ago.
At a total length of some 4,283 metres, only about a third of the Cave of Nerja can be accessed by the public, but this is more than enough to impress any visitor. The Show Gallery, which is divided up into a number of separate halls, is reached by an 8 metre flight of stairs, and once inside, concrete walkways will lead you past the giant formations of stalagmites and stalactites which look all the more dramatic as a result of the incredible lighting system used.
The Entrance Hall is where you can see displays of some of the archaeological finds and through here is the Hall of the Nativity, filled with spectacular columns of calcite. Also accessed via the Entrance Hall is the Hall of the Tusk, which in turn leads to the Hall of the Waterfall or Ballet. This latter has been transformed into an auditorium where classical concerts and dance festivals are staged, with artists declaring that the very atmosphere of the cave, as well as its superb acoustics, allow them to put on their very best performances.
Passing by walls which, in some places look as though they have been carved into intricate designs, and in others look at though they are covered with melted candle wax, you will pass through the Hall of the Phantoms and into the Hall of the Cataclysm which is home to the highest stalactitic pillar in the world, measuring 13 metres by 7 metres at its base and standing 32 metres high. Further down this 100 metre long cavern, you will find the Organ Corner, where fluted columns will produce different notes when struck.
The far corner of the Hall of the Cataclysm is where access can be gained to the Upper and New Galleries, however tourist access is restricted to these areas.
The systematic excavation of the site, carried out by a variety of experts, has even led to the discovery of species such as scarab beetles and blind scorpions, which were previously believed to have been extinct.
Almost spiritual in nature, if you can make it to Nerja Caves, it will certainly be an experience you will never forget.