Cova de les Malladetes

Cova de les Malladetes is one of the most significant archaeological sites on the Mediterranean coast of the Iberian Peninsula, tucked into the western side of the Mondúver massif above the village of Barx, in the La Safor region.

What is this place?

The site is a large rock shelter rather than a deep cave, with three separate entrance openings of unequal size — the central one reaching 10 metres in height — leading into an interior space of over 100 square metres. Discovered in the late 1920s, it has been the subject of three excavation campaigns: two in the 1940s and 1970s, and a more recent one in 2016–2017.

Its stratigraphic layers reveal a long sequence of human occupation spanning the Upper Palaeolithic, Epipalaeolithic, Neolithic, and Eneolithic periods. The most valuable levels belong to the Aurignacian, the earliest phase of the Upper Palaeolithic, marking the arrival of Homo sapiens on the Levantine coast. Recent research has produced 29 new radiocarbon dates that have helped clarify the chronology of the Aurignacian and Gravettian cultures in the area.

What will you see?

Archaeological finds from the site include pottery, flint tools, arrowheads, bone implements, engraved plaques, and human remains, alongside rich palaeoenvironmental data used to reconstruct climatic shifts throughout Levantine prehistory. The artefacts themselves are not displayed at the cave — they are held at the Museu de Prehistòria de València and the Museu Arqueològic de Gandia, where visitors can see them up close.

On site, the main draw is the shelter's structure itself and the views across the Mondúver massif, which is also home to the famous Cova del Parpalló, renowned for its Palaeolithic rock art. Nearby, it's worth combining a visit with the Font del Cirer spring, an 18th-century ice house (nevera), and the Puig Mola recreational area, popular with locals from Barx.

How to get there?

The site sits in the mountainous terrain of the western Mondúver massif, within the municipality of Barx. Access is via hiking trails that lead into the massif — there are no fixed opening hours as at a museum; instead, it functions as a stop along local hiking and nature routes. Sturdy trekking shoes and plenty of water are recommended, as the approach crosses mountainous ground.

When to visit?

Spring and autumn are the best times for a hike here, when temperatures in the Safor mountains are milder than in high summer. Summer heat in this part of Valencia can make longer approaches demanding, so an early-morning start is advisable.

Frequently asked questions

Can you go inside the cave? The site isn't run as a museum with regular opening hours — access is via hiking trails across the Mondúver massif, and the archaeological finds themselves are displayed elsewhere.

Where can I see the finds from Cova de les Malladetes? The artefacts are held at the Museu de Prehistòria de València and the Museu Arqueològic de Gandia.

How does this site differ from the nearby Cova del Parpalló? Both caves lie within the Mondúver massif, but Parpalló is best known for its rich Palaeolithic rock art, while Malladetes stands out for its long stratigraphic sequence running from the Upper Palaeolithic to the Eneolithic, and for the earliest traces of Homo sapiens in the region.

What else is worth seeing nearby? Close by you'll find the Font del Cirer spring, the historic 18th-century ice house (nevera), and the Puig Mola recreational area.