Cova de la Catxupa, shelter II

Cova de la Catxupa, Shelter II is a small rock-art site set into the hillside above Dénia, on Spain's Costa Blanca in the province of Alicante. It forms one of the painted panels that make up the wider Cova de la Catxupa complex, listed among Dénia's catalogued cultural assets.

What will you see there?

The rock surface preserves paintings roughly 6,000 years old, dating to the Neolithic period. They depict a hunting scene in fine detail: archers surrounded by goats and deer. The paintings belong to the Levantine rock-art tradition, a prehistoric painting style found along Spain's eastern seaboard. That same tradition, spanning many sites across the country, was added to the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1998 as part of the Rock Art of the Mediterranean Basin on the Iberian Peninsula.

The "Shelter II" in the name marks it out as the second of several rock overhangs (abrigos) within the same complex. Spanish archaeology commonly numbers separate painted panels this way when a rock-art site spreads across more than one section of the same cliff face — which is why more than one "shelter" carrying the Cova de la Catxupa name can be found in the area.

How do you get there, and what's around it?

The shelter sits on the slopes above Dénia, in a spot that has long served as a natural lookout. From here you can see the Montgó massif, the valley below it, and the Benitzaina district, home to an 18th-century fortified house and hermitage. The setting pairs scenic value with historical interest — the Neolithic painters chose a point from which they could watch over the surrounding land.

When to visit and how to see it?

Visits run as guided tours organised by Dénia's Archaeology and Museums department, and bookings are made by phone through the town's Ethnological Museum. Because the paintings are fragile and the terrain has limited access, there is no way to visit independently — a guided tour is the only route to seeing the original panels up close. The town council includes the site in its summer guided-tour programme alongside Dénia's other archaeological and museum attractions, making it a solid addition to a visit outside the beach season.

Frequently asked questions

What exactly is the Cova de la Catxupa? A rock shelter with prehistoric paintings roughly 6,000 years old, located above Dénia, showing a hunting scene with archers, goats, and deer.

Can I visit on my own? No — access is only possible through guided tours run by the Dénia town council, booked in advance by phone.

Is the site connected to UNESCO? The paintings belong to the Levantine rock-art style, part of the UNESCO World Heritage Rock Art of the Mediterranean Basin on the Iberian Peninsula listing since 1998.

What views does the site offer? Thanks to its hillside position, the shelter looks out over the Montgó massif, the valley beneath it, and the Benitzaina district with its 18th-century defensive buildings.