Cueva de Tito Bustillo

Cuevona de Ardines y Aula Didáctica de Tito Bustillo

Useful Information

Location:	Barrio Pico, 1, 33569 Asturias. At Ribadesella. On the western side of the river Sella bridge (N632), turn south into Carretera Piconera. A-8 Autovía del Cantábrico exit 319 Arriondas turn right on N-632 3.3 km, after bridge turn left. (43.4606631, -5.0676633)
Open:	MAR to OCT Wed-Sun 10:15-17. Arrive at least 30 min before the reserved time. Online reservation mandatory. [2024]
Fee:	Adults EUR 4.14, Children (7-11) EUR 2.12, Children (0-6) not allowed, Seniors (65+) EUR 2.12, Students EUR 2.12. Groups (20+): Adults EUR 2.12. Wednesday free, 18-MAY free. [2024]
Classification:	Karst Cave Painted Cave
Light:	Incandescent
Dimension:	T=15.5 °C, H=98%.
Guided tours:	L=1,800 m, D=60 min, MinAge=7, Max=15, MaxDay=150.
Photography:	not allowed
Accessibility:	no
Bibliography:
Address:	Cueva de Tito Bustillo, Avenida de de Tito Bustillo, s/n, 33560 Asturias, Tel: +34-902-306-600, Tel: +34-985-185-860. E-mail:
As far as we know this information was accurate when it was published (see years in brackets), but may have changed since then. Please check rates and details directly with the companies in question if you need more recent info.

History

1968	cave discovered.
13-AUG-2008	inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List.

Description

The Cueva de Tito Bustillo (Cave of Tito Bustillo) is dubbed one of the greatest sanctuaries of European Paleolitic Art by the owners. The area around the estuary of river Sella has always been an ideal place and was continually inhabited for the last 25,000 years. The caves are located ideally and have always been used as a shelter. The deep recesses were used as a sactuary and over the years almost completely painted. And it seems the discoveries in the cave have not ended by now, lately almost 60 new figures have been discovered.

The Galeria de los Caballos (Gallery of the Horses) shows several engraved figures of big horses, bisons and reindeers from the Ice Age. There are also exceptional carvings with sexual motives, phallic symbols which are considered the first depiction of masculine sex in rock art. In the cave of Lloseta, the upper level of the cave system, penis shaped objects made of stalagmites were found. Even a huge stalagmite, which obviously is a natural phallic symbol was covered by red colour made of iron oxide. The Camarìn de las Vulvas (chamber of the vulvas) is 300 m away. It is one of very few depictions of female sexual known to science.

The Riosellano culture seems to have had an extreme longevity. It existed some 18,000 years on this location.

The visits to the cave are limited to 360 persons per day and 24 per group. The tours are guided in Castellan.