Situated inland from the Costa del Sol in Andalucia, Spain, Cueva de la Pileta (Cave of the Pool) is one of the region’s greatest treasures. This cathedral-sized cavern not only has impressive geological charms, it also features some of the best-preserved Upper Paleolithic art. The cave is located in the Guadiaro Valley of the municipality of Benaoján, in the Serranía de Ronda.

Cueva de la Pileta and prehistoric art

According to Diario Sur, while the cave is impressive for its beautiful geology, it is also an important example of the prehistory of the area. It’s amazing Upper Paleolithic art gives more of an understanding of life in prehistoric times.

The cave was first discovered in 1905 by a farmer, José Bullón Lobato, a local farmer from Benaoján. The cave is still privately owned and forms part of the property of the Lobato family to this day. Currently, it comes under the care of the fourth generation of the Lobato family.

When Cueva De La Pileta was first discovered, it started a revolution in prehistoric art, as it was the first of its kind to be studied outside the Franco-Cantabrian area (northern Spain from Asturias through to Aquitaine and Provence in southern France).

At that stage, it was compared to the famous Cave of Altamira near Santillana del Mar in Cantabria which is renowned for its prehistoric cave art.

According to the cave’s Facebook page, a member of the family discovered the main entrance (pictured below) in 1924, covered by an artificial wall. Behind that wall, a skeleton appeared to be sitting at the entrance, which made the find even more fascinating.

When exploratory work was carried out after the farmer’s discovery, archeologists found ceramic remains, including a pendant representing Venus, human bone remains and a truly impressive series of cave paintings. Meanwhile, the art features charcoal drawings and polychrome paintings of human hands and contemporary local fauna.

How to access the cave

The site of the cave is easy to find and can be accessed from the MA-8401 running through the Guardiaro Valley. The site is approximately 4.5 km (2.8 mi) from Benaoján in the direction of Cortes de la Frontera. Meanwhile, clear road signage marks the exit from the highway and the nearby parking area for the cave.

To protect Cueva de la Pileta, a visit must be booked in advance for a specified day and time. Currently, the timetable for reservations is open for visits between 10 am and 6 pm. The entry fee is 10 euros ($10.80) for adults and 6 euros ($6.50) for children.

Find out more about the Cueva de la Pileta and gain access to visit from the official website here.