Caves of Altamira, opening again?
If you are heading to Spain next year consider putting the Caves of Altamira on your list of places to visit. After being closed for 8 years the caves are once again going to be open to the public. What's to see? Twenty one cave paintings of Bison that are estimated to be between 14,000 and 20,000 years old.
The caves were discovered back in 1868 but, due to deterioration, not many visitor have been allowed to enter the caves since 1982. Given that gradual deterioration is thought to have been caused by the heat and moisture from the presence of over 3,000 visitors day after day for many years, it has been speculated that opening the caves will deteriorate the paintings even more. Scientist have recommended the caves remain closed because the natural body heat and breathing from visitors causes mold to appear on the paintings.
There will be some restrictions to the number of visitors allowed in the caves; however a committee is still drawing up the guidelines. The caves are situated in the northern Cantabria region and have been called the Sistine Chapel of Paleolithic Art.