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A majestic cathedral formed by nature. That is how the proud inhabitants of the village of Busot describe the interior of their Canelobre cave complex. Others call it the Sagrada Familia because of its resemblance to the famous basilica designed by the modernist architect Gaudi in Barcelona. There is much to be said for both descriptions. In any case: the Canelobre cave is special for several reasons and stands out from other caves in the world. Situated 700 metres above sea level on a mountain slope, the cave is estimated to be 145 million years old. Going back to the Jurassic period, that is extremely old even for other caves.
But for visitors who travel to Busot (23 kilometres inland from Alicante), the dazzlingly beautiful interior is the main attraction. After a walk through a 45-metre-long tunnel, a fairytale setting unfolds. The highest cave vault in Spain reaches 70 metres. The geological treasure trove includes spectacular and bizarre shapes of rock formations formed over millions of years. The porous limestone has formed impressive stalactites, stalagmites and bizarre columns. The absolute highlight of a visit is a look at the 25-metre rock formation that has formed in the heart of the vault. Visitors marvel at the natural art object that water droplets with tiny pieces of limestone have formed after an eternity.
The beautiful acoustics in the cave system make it a popular place for musical performances. This is of course in addition to the extra splendour and magnificence that a live music experience offers concertgoers. The cave is also the location for a special festival every year at the end of April as part of the local Moors and Christians festivities.
Entrance tickets to Canelobre and the tours that usually last forty-five minutes also apply to another attraction in Busot. The village is home to the Ethnic Music Museum. Here one of the most extensive collections of special and obscure musical instruments from all over the world is brought together. The collection includes over 4,000 unusual musical instruments and attracts music lovers from all over the world.
