Day Out Denia and Cuevas de las Calaveras
A visit to the castle at Denia followed by an afternoon at the nearby Cuevas de las Caslaveras is a great actioned packed day out.
Denia enjoys a privilege position right on the northern edge of the province of Alicante. It sits on the shores of the Mediterranean opposite the Balearic Islands and is backed by the impressive mountains of the the Montgo Natural park. Denia is packed with many places of interest. A coffee in the old town or along the impressive tree lined main street is a good idea before heading up to the castle ruins. The castle proudly guards the town and is great fun to explore. Most of the buildings which used to occupy the grounds have long gone, leaving a big open space behind the imposing castle walls. Within the castle is a museum which explains the history of Denia, but it is the views from the very top of the castle out over the sea that are simply amazing.
The Cuevas de las Calaveras are located just 15 kilometres inland along the road between Pedreguer and Benidoleig. The caves got their rather sinister name, the Caves of the Skulls, form the many skulls that were found in them when they were discovered in 1768. There is an interesting historical display which outlines the formation of the cave system and details some of its subsequent uses. During WWII soldiers used the cave to store food and even to repair aircraft engines!
Places to stop during a day out at Denia and Cuevas de las Calaveras
- Old Town: small narrow streets and plazas to wander around.
- High Street: impressive tree lined main shopping street.
- Castle: explore the ruins of this historic landmark.
- Cuevas de las Calaveras: cave system with restaurant and children's play area.
Places of Interest
1 Denia Car Park
N38o50.819 E0o06.522Parking: is in any of the spaces beside the road or in the large gravelled car park and is free.
From here: walk through the old town to the castle and main tree lined high street.
Places of interest and things to do in Denia
- Old town: small narrow streets and plazas.
- High Street: impressive tree lined street with shops and eateries on both sides.
2 Denia Castle
N38o50.496 E0o06.346Parking: is in Denia Car Park.
From here: this is the coordinate for the castle entrance or follow the signs to the Centre Historic and the Castillo.
Places of interest and things to do at the Castle
- Castle: the castle is open everyday except the 25th December and the 1st January. Times vary depending on the month, but are roughly 10.00-13.00 & 15.00-18.00 during the winter and 10.00-13.30 & 17.00-19.30 in the summer. Tickets are 3€ for adults and 1€ for children.
- Archaeological Museum: inside the castle.
- Cafe and Toilets: inside the castle.
3 Cuevas de las Calaveras
N38o47.596 W0o01.078Parking: is in the car park and is free
From here: buy your ticket and enter the caves.
Places of interest and things to do at the Cuevas de las Calaveras
- Caves: the caves are open 09.00-18.00 during the winter and 09.00-20.00 during the summer, they do not close for siesta. Tickets cost 3.50€ per adult and 2€ per child. It can be cold inside the caves, so make sure you bring some warm clothes. For more information take a look at the official website.
- Restaurant: serving drinks and meals.
- Children's Play Area: a fenced off area with swings and slides for children.
