The Cave of Altamira is located in northern Spain, near the town of Santillana del Mar in the Cantabria region. This cave is renowned for its prehistoric parietal art, featuring drawings and polychrome rock paintings of wild mammals and human hands, dating back to the Upper Paleolithic period.
In addition to Altamira, other notable decorated caves can be found in the same region and throughout Europe. Some examples include:
Lascaux Cave - Located in southwestern France, this cave is famous for its Paleolithic cave paintings, estimated to be over 17,000 years old.
Chauvet Cave - Situated in the Ardèche region of southern France, Chauvet contains some of the best-preserved figurative cave paintings in the world, dating back approximately 30,000 to 32,000 years.
El Castillo Cave - Also in Cantabria, Spain, this cave features some of the oldest known cave paintings in the world, including hand stencils and red disks.
Pech Merle - Located in the Lot region of France, this cave is famous for its prehistoric paintings of spotted horses and human hands.
These sites are part of a rich heritage of prehistoric art, offering invaluable insights into early human creativity and culture. Access to these caves is often restricted to preserve the delicate artwork, but some have replicas or visitor centers where people can learn more about these ancient masterpieces.