February 21 Guided tour of the prehistoric rock art in the municipality of Moratalla

10,000-year-old paintings in the rock shelters of Calar de la Santa

The town of Moratalla in north-western Murcia is working hard on increasing the tourist attractions and activities in the municipality, a good example being this guided tour to some of the prehistoric rock art which it offers in the natural rock shelters of Cañaíca del Calar II and III.

Held in Spanish, this tour on 21^st February is a chance to travel a long way back into the past, to the time when the first examples of rock art started to appear in areas close to the Mediterranean. This was the end of the Old Stone Age, around 10,000 years ago, and the art produced in this part of the world has been broadly divided into Levantine (showing dynamic figures with humans and animals) and Schematic, with more abstract and perhaps symbolic designs.

Both can be seen in the visit, which includes a 5-km walk to the site and lasts around 2 and a half hours, starting at 10.30 at the Calar de la Santa (click for map). Registration is now open online here (until 18.30 on 18^th February) at a cost of 5 euros (accompanying infants aged under 6 free of charge).

At the end of the visit, participants have a chance to look around the Interpretation Centre (Centro de Interpretación de Arte Rupestre - Casa de Cristo) near the town of Moratalla, which is open on Saturdays until 18.00.

Proper walking footwear is required, as is drinking water.

A small price to pay for a chance to learn a little about how our distant ancestors lived, through and expressed themselves way before recorded history!

Further information is available from the Tourist Office of Moratalla (email turismo@ayuntamientomoratalla.net, telephone 968 730208, or indeed from the Moratalla section of Murcia Today.

For more upcoming events in the Region of Murcia go to the What’s on section of Murcia Today.