Barrio de Cuevas

The local Guadix enviroment has left its mark on the way of life of the local population, forcing them to construct a peculiar type of family and communal dwelling: caves.The exact date when the caves began to be used as a living space is unknown, but it is presumed to be some time after the Islamic period. Construction was in full swing by the first half og the 16th century.At the present there are around 2000 caves, inhabited by some 3000 people, the largest cave complex in Europe. One of the core areas of the cave network is the New Hermitage, carved out of the bare hillside. A superb 18th century canvas of the Virgen de Gracia, of great artistic merit, stands out amid the poverty of its general sorroundings.Among the marvelous panoramic views one can enjoy from this area, perhaps the best is observed from Mirador Cerro de la Bala