Refugio Antiaéreo Calderón de la Barca

An interesting although perhaps too brief of an experience (hence only four stars) as access to the claimed "subterranean labyrinth" isn't available to visitors but is limited to a guided tour of only a hundred meters or so. The tunnel was only opened to tourists in 2010 but according to our guide efforts are underway to open more of the tunnel network. The tour of the tunnel is led by a friendly local guide with an extensive knowledge of the history of the tunnels. The tour is presently only provided in Spanish and without a modicum of understanding it would be difficult to gain much of an appreciation of the site's features and significance. Although you are required to don hard hats, passage through the tunnel is on a well constructed path with ample lighting making for easy walking. The tunnel is not large so those that find small places uncomfortable might want to stroll the streets of Cuenca instead. Tours are limited in size and only one or two are given each day. The schedule varies according to the day of the week. It is best to make reservations early in the day. Book a spot at the city's tourist information center in the old town for a place later in the day. Entrance to the tunnel is not at the tourist office, but directions are provided when tickets are purchased. A small sign marks the plain steel door entrance in a rock wall just across the street from 87 Calle Alfonso VIII. Allow yourself a little bit of extra time to find the slightly obscure entrance before the scheduled starting time of the tour. Once everyone is inside the tour starts and the door is locked.

A tunnel where only 40 people are allowed in at once. You get a large history lesson as to why the tunnel exists and it was a very interesting experience. You will receive hard hats to enter the tunnel and walk through 100m of a cool underground passage way used in the Spanish Civil War. A tip would be buy tickets more than 90 minutes in advance if you really want to check out the tunnel!

Not clear at all that you can ONLY buy tickets in advance from the tourism office. So buy in advance to save yourself the disappointment. The small print at the bottom says that tickets are sold at the tourism office but does not specifically say that they can only be bought there. Sadly Spain’s lack of proper signposting strikes again.

Currently closed for maintenance. Not sure when back open.

The historic reenactment they offer is really worth it.

Estuvimos en el turno de las 18.00. el guía un 10 para el. Le pongo 4 y no cinco porque hay que subir a la oficina de turismo por las entradas. Por lo demás bien. Lo aconsejo verlo.Aunque cuando nosotros estuvimos no pudimos verlo entero porque había habido desprendimientos.

Una nueva atracción turística en la bonita ciudad de Cuenca, todos conocemos su casco antiguo, las casas colgadas... pero estos tuneles no solo son interesantes por su belleza, sino por la historia que nos cuentan de la ciudad y de como se vivió la guerra civil española. Os recomiendo la visita teatralizada, para haceros sentir como uno de los refugiados de guerra que pasaban por la ciudad camino al exilio, o el terror de los habitantes ante los bombardeos.

Los túneles-refugio antiaéreo de la guerra civil española están muy bien rehabilitados y acondicionados. Optamos por la visita teatralizada por 5 euros (los niños menores de 13 años no pagan) y el actor fue, junto con el refugio, lo mejor de la visita: “Anatolio” habló de su vida como dueño de un colmado en la Plaza Mayor y las vicisitudes de la guerra. Todo correcto. Pero a la guía le faltaba objetividad: a la explicación del refugio iba dejando perlas de su ideología, muy alejadas del espíritu de reconciliación entre españoles. Hace poco estuve en Belchite y la guía no alababa a ninguno de los dos bandos, cosa que esta señora no puede disimular “en Cuenca somos republicanos” o reconocer el trabajo de asociaciones comunistas como “La gavilla verde”. Sectarismo en estado puro estando a escasos 150 metros de una “Cheka” socialista donde se encarcelaba y torturaba gente por ser católicos o de ideología derechista o monárquica (cheka frente al Escardillo). Salimos de allí con mal sabor de boca. No volveré.