Every year since 1960, Nerja Caves has held a Festival Internacional de Música y Danza but not this year, which would have been the 61st.

The health crisis and the financial problems brought with it led the foundation that runs the caves to postpone the anniversary celebrations of the discovery of the caves (January 1959) until next year.

The caves were opened to the public for the first time on the 12th of June, 1960, over a year after they had been discovered. On that occasion 300 people gathered to watch the Ballet Le Tour de París.

The Chairman of the foundation, Teófilo Ruiz, explained that they had evaluated the present situation and had decided to put off the festival, which over the years has enjoyed the presence of such artistes as Maya Plisetkaya (1991), Yehudi Menuhin (1992), Joaquín Cortés (1993), Alfredo Kraus (1996), Montserrat Caballé (1999), Ainhoa Arteta (2000 and 2008), José Carreras (2001 & 2009), Kiri Te Kanawa (2002), Paco de Lucía (2004), Bebo Valdés (2005), Carlos Álvarez (2005), Mariza (2006), Miguel Poveda (2008), Joan Manuel Serrat (2009) and Estrella Morente (2010) and many more.

The Caves reopened on the 1st of June after two months of being closed down. The loss of income has forced the foundation to apply for a loan of 900,000 euros so that it has the funds to pay the salaries of their 40 employees.

On a positive note, the Nerja Caves have become the first monument in Spain to receive a Safe Tourism Certified status, awarded by the Instituto de la Calidad Turística Española (ICTE). Furthermore, the Museo de Nerja, which is also run by the same foundations, received its S.T.C. as well.

(News: Maro, Axarquia, Costa del Sol, Malaga, Andalucia – Photo: Cave Inauguration 1960)