Altamira is the best-known cave of Palaeolithic rock art in the world. Its polychrome ceiling of bison — painted between 14,000 and 20,000 years ago — changed the way prehistoric art was understood when it was discovered in 1879. It has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1985.
The original cave is closed to the public to protect it, apart from five visitors a week chosen by lottery. For everyone else, the Altamira Museum offers the “Neocueva”: a precise replica of the Polychrome Hall, built using photogrammetry and 3D sculpture. The result is striking — the visual and emotional experience comes very close to the real thing.
Seventy-five minutes from Alles. It pairs well with a visit to Santillana del Mar, 2 km from the museum.
