Oficina de Información Turística
Martes a sábado de 11.30 h. a 16.30 h.
+34 638 929 509
+34 928 666 102
Artenara
El pueblo de las Casas Cueva
Artenara
El pueblo de las Casas Cueva
ARTENARA
As you enter the cave you can see hanging from the ceiling some red corn cobs drying, these are used for making gofio. To the left there is a machine “Una Desgranadora” that separates the grains of maize from the corn cob, work that once was done by hand, rubbing cob against cob.
To the right we see a “Tralla", a tool for the pressing of bitter almonds, this made an oil which is famous for its use in cosmetics and medicine. This local oil of bitter almonds is difficult to obtain as the cost is high, you need four kilos of almonds to make one litre of oil. This work continued for many years as you can see in the pictures.
On the walls you have a collection of different old agricultural tools, amongst them an old plough, "the trillo", with its well-worn volcanic stones. This reminds us that Artenara today, which is a land of pine trees, was once a land of extensive cereal growing and threshing circles.
On the inside of this cave is the family “bodega” (wine cellar), on the left there is a small bath locally known as a “goro”, notice the ropes to aid balance whilst treading the grapes with bare feet. This is a part of the process to make wine, also there is a vat where the wine was stored to mature.
The baskets and drying racks are made from canes, from nearby Chajunco, these were used both to dry cheeses, and for drying the figs and the tunas (fruit from the cactus).
The scales from the old shop reminds us that to buy cheese in those days was considered a luxury, not affordable for all.