History
15/05/2025
Historical Background of the Cueva
The original Cueva was carved into the sloping hillsides of the Sierra de la Corqué mountain ridge, which rises majestically behind the village of Capres and the villa itself. This natural formation has long served as a protective backdrop and shelter for the area. These cave dwellings were inhabited by large families for generations, offering a simple yet sustainable way of life. However, by the mid-1970s, new legislation concerning health, hygiene, and safety standards led many families to abandon their ancestral homes. In the late 1990s, a revival began. Locals—and later, international residents—started returning to these caves, restoring them as charming holiday homes. Many of the original families reclaimed their heritage, while newcomers from the UK, Germany, and the Netherlands discovered the caves as peaceful winter retreats. This blend of tradition and renewal has brought new life to the historic dwellings of the Sierra. In these pictures you can see how the original two Cueva loked like. embedded in the hill slope and how a brand new villa was 'attached' to it, as well as how two extra entrances to the cueva were created.
Reconstruction
The newly built villa is constructed on a solid reinforced concrete foundation. Interior and exterior walls are built using insulating blocks. The sloped roof is covered with terracotta tiles and fully insulated. The side walls are seamlessly integrated into the precisely carved rock face, with the masonry anchored directly into the stone. Inside the living room, two additional openings have been created to connect with the existing cueva spaces. All walls, including those of the original cuevas, have been plastered. New electrical wiring has been installed throughout, with switches and sockets placed in functional locations. The property is connected to the public water supply. Wastewater from toilets and showers is directed to a designated soakaway area approximately 100 meters downhill on the property, where biological waste is naturally recycled into nutrients for the surrounding vegetation.
