Cueva de la Mora

Cueva de la Mora is a small rock cave near Basardilla, in the province of Segovia, set within the canyon landscape carved by the Pirón and Viejo rivers. Its entrance is concealed behind a large, upright limestone slab, so the cave is easy to miss unless you're specifically looking for it along the trail.

Where exactly is the cave?

Cueva de la Mora sits on a rocky outcrop just above a spring, in the Río Viejo valley. This is limestone country, cut by the Pirón and Viejo rivers along the border of the Torreiglesias and Losana de Pirón municipalities, a few kilometers from Basardilla in the rural heart of the Segovia Sur area. The surrounding countryside is known for its compact, scenic canyons with notable landscape and historical value.

What will you see inside?

The cave itself isn't large, but it has one striking feature: a natural "window" opened in the rock face, facing south. Daylight streams through this opening, and from inside you get a clear view over the Río Viejo canyon. Deeper in the cave there's also a small tomb carved into the rock — according to local legend, a Moorish child was buried here, which gave the cave its alternate name, "Cuna del Niño Moro" (Cradle of the Moorish Child). A few hundred meters from the entrance, almost at plateau level, lies La Torca, a sinkhole formed when the roof of a large underground chamber collapsed.

How do you get there?

The most straightforward way to reach Cueva de la Mora is on the "Cañones del Río Pirón y Viejo" hiking route, which starts in Peñarrubias de Pirón. The trail runs roughly 11 km, following the beds of both rivers past medieval bridges and centuries-old trees before reaching the rocky spur where the cave sits. The full loop takes at least four hours and is rated easy, making it a viable day trip almost any time of year. Sturdy footwear helps, since part of the route crosses the stony valley floor and requires wading through the riverbed.

When is the best time to visit?

Thanks to its easy profile, the trail can be walked in any season, though spring and autumn are the safest bets — river levels stay moderate and temperatures are comfortable for a multi-hour walk. In summer, an early start helps you avoid the heat on the more exposed stretches of the canyon; in winter, expect higher water levels after rainfall.

What else is worth seeing nearby?

Many hikers combine Cueva de la Mora with a visit to the nearby Cueva de la Vaquera, a popular variant for those who want to see more than one cave in a single outing. The Segovia Sur area, which includes Basardilla, has several similarly uncrowded landscape spots along the Pirón valley — a good option for travelers looking for quiet nature away from Segovia's more famous, busier sights.

Frequently asked questions

Do you need a guide to visit the cave? No — the trail is marked and rated easy, so you can visit on your own as long as you stick to the signposted route.

Is the inside of the cave dark? Not entirely — the natural rock window lets daylight into the main chamber, though the side recesses are dim enough to warrant a torch.

How long does the whole hike take? The full "Cañones del Río Pirón y Viejo" loop takes at least four hours round trip, including the walk to the cave and back to Peñarrubias de Pirón.

Are there other attractions nearby? Yes — La Torca sinkhole lies just a few hundred meters from the cave, and further along the trail you'll find Cueva de la Vaquera, the region's other well-known cave.