Geopark Museums: An International Benchmark
Altamira and Much More
Altamira and Much More
Altamira National Museum and Research Center
(Santillana del Mar)Altamira has been called the Sistine Chapel of cave art. Its scientific and cultural significance make this cave one of the most important in the world, which is why it was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1985. This designation was expanded in 2008 to include other outstanding caves in northern Spain, such as El Pendo, with the aim of providing Altamira with a broader context for a better understanding of the ways of life and material expressions of European prehistory.
The museum was founded in 1924 and houses the collection resulting from the various research campaigns carried out at the site over decades. After the original cave was closed to the public for conservation reasons in 1977, it reopened to a very limited number of visitors until the inauguration of the current museum in 2002, which houses an exact replica of the so-called “polychrome ceiling” and makes for a fascinating visit.
MUPAC, Museum of Prehistory and Archaeology of Cantabria
(Santander)
This spacious, modern museum houses one of the world’s richest and most important collections of Paleolithic portable art. It brings together archaeological finds from all the caves in the region, including an exceptionally rich collection of artifacts discovered in the El Pendo Cave.
Also of great interest are the Lower Paleolithic stone tools associated with Homo neanderthalensis, the vast majority of which come from open-air sites in the Costa Quebrada area, as well as the enigmatic Asturian chisels from the Epipaleolithic period. This exquisite collection of objects and artifacts is complemented by archaeological finds that shed light on the prehistory and history of the Cantabrian people—from Romanization and the legendary resistance of the Iron Age inhabitants through to the Middle Ages.
Cantabrian Maritime Museum
(Santander)
This popular museum allows us to immerse ourselves in the Cantabrian Sea, the history of its people, and the naval technology they developed—which made the first transatlantic voyages possible starting in the 16th century.
It features collections and exhibits related to ocean dynamics, the relationship between humans and the sea, fishing and naval techniques, the historical importance of the Cantabrian Sea, marine biology and ecology, and the history of oceanographic science.
The aquarium section introduces us to various marine environments and the species that inhabit them, offering an immersive experience that makes us aware of the urgent need to conserve the oceans and coastlines.