Cueva de la Araña

Cueva de la Araña is a group of three rock shelters with prehistoric paintings in the municipality of Bicorp, in the Escalona river valley, in the province of Valencia. The site owes its fame to two scenes painted by the early inhabitants of the area: a goat hunt using bow and arrow, and a figure gathering honey from a wild bee colony — the oldest known depiction of bees and the earliest evidence of honey consumption by Homo sapiens. The paintings span a wide time range, from the Mesolithic to the early Bronze Age, and together with other Levantine rock art sites in eastern Spain were inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1998.

What will you see at Cueva de la Araña?

The star attraction is the scene of a human figure climbing (or descending) along ropes down a rock face toward a beehive, with insects painted around the opening. It is one of the most recognizable images in all of Levantine rock art — reproductions of this scene have made their way into history textbooks and publications on the origins of beekeeping worldwide. The second key motif is the ibex hunt, showing archers drawing their bows in dynamic poses. The paintings are small and require a careful eye — the ochre pigments on the pale limestone background have survived remarkably well, despite being exposed to the elements for thousands of years.

Beyond the art itself, the setting adds to the experience: the shelters sit in a gorge above the Escalona river, in a landscape typical of inland Valencia — dry hills, Mediterranean scrub, and a quiet that is hard to find closer to the coast.

How do you get there and what does a visit involve?

Bicorp lies inland, roughly 80 km from Valencia city, in an area without heavy tourist infrastructure — getting there means driving. The rock shelters themselves are protected and access is restricted: visits run as guided tours organized by the Ecomuseo de Bicorp, typically lasting around three hours. The route combines the walk up to the shelters with a short explanation of the archaeological context and a walk through the surrounding terrain above the Escalona. Booking ahead is worthwhile, since tour spots are limited and independent entry into the shelters is not permitted, in order to protect the paintings.

When should you visit?

Spring and autumn are the best times to go, when temperatures in this part of Valencia are moderate and the approach trail isn't exposed to the full summer sun. In summer, the rocky, largely treeless terrain can make the three-hour tour tiring. Sturdy walking shoes, water, and sun protection are worth packing regardless of the season.

Frequently asked questions

Can you visit Cueva de la Araña without a guide? No — access to the rock shelters is restricted and only possible through guided tours run by the Ecomuseo de Bicorp, which protects the paintings from damage.

What exactly do the paintings show? Two main scenes: an ibex hunt with bow and arrow, and a person gathering honey from a wild bee colony — the oldest known depiction of this activity anywhere in the world.

How long is the tour and how demanding is it? The standard guided tour lasts about three hours and includes walking across rocky terrain above the Escalona river — it calls for a basic level of fitness and proper footwear.

Why is this site on the UNESCO World Heritage List? Cueva de la Araña forms part of a broader UNESCO inscription covering Mediterranean Basin rock art on the Iberian Peninsula, recognized in 1998 as an exceptional record of prehistoric artistic expression.