Mayor proposes opening two new spaces in Nerja Caves to public

TWO new spaces in the Nerja Caves may soon open to the public, as proposed by Mayor Jose Alberto Armijo.

Mr Armijo, vice-president of the Nerja Caves Foundation, has put forwarded a plan to the foundation president, Jorge Hernandez Mollar, to open the caves La Torca and La Mina, currently closed to public.

If the proposal is approved, these two new spaces, considered the heart of the caves because of their importance, would be opened to the public for the first time since the caves became a tourist attraction in 1960.

He will be able to discuss the proposal in the town hall once a scientific board has authorised it.

The mayor explained that the visits would be carried out in reduced groups. Participants would be able to enjoy a guided tour and learn about the caves’ history.

Tours would be conducted by Professors Jorda and Pellicer, who carried out the archaeological excavations back when the caves were first discovered.

La Torca includes the space through which the discoverers accessed the caves, as well as a passage through which they entered the Sala del Ballet, breaking the silence sealed there for thousands of years.

“We are aiming to further promote the heritage value of the caves and, at the same time, diversify the options for tourism. All measures taken by the foundation are expected to generate income to carry out investigation and conservation projects, with the ultimate goal of obtaining the title of World Heritage Site from UNESCO,” said the mayor.