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Museum · Santander, Cantábria
Museo de Altamira
National museum next to the cave of Altamira, a World Heritage Site, in Santillana del Mar, about 30 km from Santander, featuring the Neocave, a faithful replica of the prehistoric paintings.
Illustrative images. The pictures in this guide are illustrations based on the real place, not photographs, and may differ from it.
Discover
About Museo de Altamira
The cave of Altamira, in Santillana del Mar, about 30 km from Santander, preserves some of the best-known prehistoric cave paintings in the world, with the polychrome bison on the ceiling, painted over 14,000 years ago in the Upper Paleolithic. The cave has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1985.
To protect the paintings, access to the original cave is highly restricted. Next to it is the National Museum and Research Center of Altamira, opened in 2001, designed by architect Juan Navarro Baldeweg. The highlight is the Neocave, a faithful reproduction of the cave as it was when inhabited, with the bison ceiling recreated using the same techniques and pigments.
The permanent exhibition, The Times of Altamira, displays objects from the cave and from other sites in Cantabria, such as stone and bone tools, ornaments and animal remains, and explains how Paleolithic hunter groups lived. There are also workshops on prehistoric techniques.
The village of Santillana del Mar, about 2 km away, has a medieval stone centre and a Romanesque collegiate church.
Before you go
Practical information
Cidade Turismo reviews its information regularly, but something may have changed. Check with the place before planning your trip.
How much time to set aside
About 1.5 to 2 hours.
Best time
In the morning, to combine with Santillana del Mar. In summer and on holidays, book in advance; check before you go.
How to get there
It's in Santillana del Mar, about 30 km from Santander, roughly a 30-minute drive via the A-67. There are buses from Santander to Santillana, and from there the museum is about 2 km away.
Tip
Combine the museum with the village of Santillana del Mar, a few minutes away: you can do both in a morning.
Get your questions answered
Frequently asked questions about Museo de Altamira
Can you enter the original cave of Altamira?
Access to the original cave is very restricted. The museum shows the Neocueva, a faithful replica of the paintings.
What is the Neocueva?
A faithful reproduction of the Altamira cave, with the bison ceiling reproduced using the same techniques and pigments.
Where is the Altamira Museum located?
In Santillana del Mar, about 30 km from Santander.