With the onset of good weather, it’s time to get out of the house, breathe in the fresh air and feel the spirit of nature and the light that bring life to Cumbre del Sol. There are endless things to do around your home, however our blog always has something new to offer from end to end of the Costa Blanca Norte.
Benissa is one of the least-known places in the Marina Alta. This gap in awareness of its existence is actually commensurate with its beauty. It has one of the oldest town centres in the area, as well as lovely countryside, beaches and monuments with an endless list of things to do, both in the town and its surrounding area. One of its most picturesque (and unknown) attractions is surely its cave paintings. We tell you about them in this article, where to find them, and how to visit them.
The charm of the unknown
There is nothing like discovering something new somewhere just a few kilometres from your home, and that is exactly the case with these cave paintings. You can reach the place on foot along a hiking trail, just 5 kilometres from Benissa, or if you prefer, you can also get there by car. It is close to the rural district of Pinos at a place called Abrigo de Pinos (Shelter of the Pines but also known locally as “Barranc de la Tía Isabel”).
The shelter is an overhang of chalky rock some 200 metres long which has several caves, in one of which you will find the paintings. They were discovered in 1970, and in 1985 they were officially declared as Cultural Heritage and, subsequently a World Heritage Site. The set of paintings is protected by a metal grill placed on the rock wall so that the paintings can be viewed without getting too close, thus they are protected from deterioration or any other problems. There are four explanatory panels alongside them so that you can situate them in time and understand the figures, as many are camouflaged by the rock. Even so, the one known as “Eva Pinera” has become an iconic figure. Standing with arms akimbo, experts have dated this painting as 6,000 to 8,000 years old. At just 50 centimetres away from this figure, it is possible to discern a zoomorphic representation typical of the Levante which has been partially lost. There is also another portrayal of four figures that appear to be holding hands.
Unmissable Benissa
If having viewed the paintings you are thinking of what else you can do, we suggest that you visit Benissa if you don’t know it yet. In the Marina Alta, and only a short distance from the road leading to places like Calpe, Moraira, Altea, Teulada or Benidorm, the town is easy to reach and an essential stop-off in the Costa Blanca Norte.
One of the reasons that you will love this place is its cuisine. Strongly influenced by the sea and the mountains, it is varied and made with care. The star dish here is “putxero de polp”, or octopus casserole, originally a fishermen’s dish. This stew is made with pulses (beans) potatoes, vegetables and rice.
Benissa is a must-see if you want to discover somewhere in the Marina Alta that is less well-known, but certainly no less charming. Some months ago we published a post on plans for things to do in Benissa and you can read about it here. We suggest that you look out for our upcoming blog posts so that you don’t miss out on anything going on around Residential Resort Cumbre del Sol.
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