Centro de Interpretación del Megalitismo

Centro de Interpretación del Megalitismo is an underground visitor center in Gorafe (Granada) that introduces travelers to the largest cluster of dolmens on the Iberian Peninsula. It's the natural starting point before heading out into the Gorafe Megalithic Park, and the best place to understand what you're actually looking at once you're standing among the stone tombs scattered across the Gor river valley.

What is there to see inside?

The building covers about 600 m², making it the largest interpretation center in the whole province of Granada. Its architecture is deliberate: partly sunk into the ground, the structure mimics the shape of a megalithic tomb, complete with its own "chamber" and "access corridor" — echoing the very monuments it explains. Sitting on a 2,000 m² plot, the center also doubles as a viewpoint, with views opening onto the valley below well before visitors even set off on a trail.

Inside are five exhibition rooms built around multimedia and interactive displays rather than traditional glass cases. Large screens, children's workshops, and a Bluetooth-based app let visitors download details on the park's three walking routes directly to their phone. The highlight is a 3D projection called "Hace 5000 años…" ("5,000 years ago…"), a short film that reconstructs daily life and burial rituals of the community that built the dolmens in this valley.

How many dolmens are there, and which ones can you visit?

Along the banks of the Gor river, around 240 megalithic burial structures have been documented, most of them already studied and catalogued — the highest concentration of dolmens not just in Spain, but anywhere in Europe. Dozens have been made accessible to the public across three signposted routes: Las Majadillas, Llano de Olivares, and Hoyas del Coquín. Each route cuts through a different section of the valley, showing dolmens in varying states of preservation, from scattered stone slabs to fully readable burial chambers.

How to get there and when to visit?

Gorafe is reached via the GR-6100 road, which connects the village to the A-92N motorway; access is straightforward and there's parking right by the center. Guided visits typically run at 11:00 and 16:00, though groups can arrange other times in advance. Booking ahead is a good idea, especially in summer, when afternoon heat can be intense — the dolmen routes cross open, rocky terrain with little shade, so spring and autumn make for a more comfortable combination of museum visit and trail walking.

Frequently asked questions

Is the interpretation center enough on its own, or do I need to walk one of the dolmen routes too? The center provides context and explains what megalithism actually means, but the dolmens themselves are out on the trails — pairing the exhibition with at least one of the three routes gives the fuller picture.

Can the center be visited independently, without a guide? The indoor exhibition can be explored at your own pace, but the outdoor dolmen routes are usually run as guided visits at set times, so it's worth confirming the schedule before arriving.

Is this a good destination for families with children? Yes — the center runs educational workshops for younger visitors, and the interactive format (screens, the 3D film, the Bluetooth app) makes the archaeology approachable for kids.

When did the center open? It opened in September 2011 and has served as the main information point for visitors to the Gorafe Megalithic Park ever since.