The Gruta de las Maravillas, in Aracena (Huelva), is a karst complex of great beauty, considered one of the most spectacular in Spain and a pioneer of underground tourism in Europe. Formed in Palaeozoic Cambrian carbonate rocks (over 500 million years old), this groundwater cave, situated beneath the Cerro del Castillo, is notable for its extensive galleries, crystal-clear lakes and unique geological formations.

The Gruta de las Maravillas has been open since 1914, making it Spain’s first tourist cave. It is 2,130 metres long, with a 1,200-metre tourist route, and is famous for its lakes, stalactites and stalagmites, and unique chambers.

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  • LOCATION: Calle Pozo de la Nieve (no number), 21200 Aracena, in the Sierra de Aracena and Picos de Aroche Natural Park. It is a pedestrian street, with car parks nearby.
  • FEATURES:
    • Formations: Stalactites, stalagmites, columns, gours, pisolites, eccentrics and blue aragonites, shaped by the dissolving action of water.
    • Notable rooms: the Shell Room, the Great Hall, the Cathedral Room, the Sultana’s Bath, the Emerald Room, the Glass Room of God, the Chickpea Room and the Nude Room, known for its unusual shapes.
    • Lakes: Six underground lakes, with abundant water in the water table, which add a touch of magic to the route.
  • HISTORY:
    • Discovered in the mid-19th century, possibly as a result of mining work (although local legend mentions a shepherd). The first historical reference dates from 1850.
    • It opened to the public in 1914, becoming Spain’s first cave open to tourists.
    • Extensions: The second floor was opened in 1926, and in 2014, to mark the centenary, the Candelabrum Room and the Banquet Hall were opened to the public.
  • CULTURAL SIGNIFICANCE:
    • Designated a Site of Tourist Interest in Andalusia.
    • The setting for films such as *Journey to the Centre of the Earth* (1959), *Tarzan in King Solomon’s Mines* (1973) and Spanish-German co-productions (1988).
    • It celebrated its centenary in 2014 with a documentary and improvements to its infrastructure (a new electrical system and refurbishment of the façade).