Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters

Take your next trip with Atlas Obscura!

Our small-group adventures are inspired by our Atlas of the world's most fascinating places, the stories behind them, and the people who bring them to life.

Visit Adventures
Trips Highlight
Macchu Picchu
Peru • 10 days, 9 nights
Peru: Machu Picchu & the Last Incan Bridges
from
Central Asia yurt night stars
Uzbekistan • 15 days, 14 nights
Central Asia Road Trip: Backroads & Bazaars
from
View all trips
Top Destinations
Latest Places
Most Popular Places Random Place Lists Itineraries
Add a Place
Download the App
Top Destinations
View All Destinations »

Countries

  • Australia
  • Canada
  • China
  • France
  • Germany
  • India
  • Italy
  • Japan

Cities

  • Amsterdam
  • Barcelona
  • Beijing
  • Berlin
  • Boston
  • Budapest
  • Chicago
  • London
  • Los Angeles
  • Mexico City
  • Montreal
  • Moscow
  • New Orleans
  • New York City
  • Paris
  • Philadelphia
  • Rome
  • San Francisco
  • Seattle
  • Stockholm
  • Tokyo
  • Toronto
  • Vienna
  • Washington, D.C.
Latest Places
View All Places »
Saquon Barkley Plaque
Kirkkasik Bedesten inside
Kirkkasik Bedesten
Someshwar Temple
Someshwar Temple
Grilled cheese and tomato soup are soulmates.
The Palisades Restaurant
Latest Places to Eat & Drink
View All Places to Eat »
A skeleton on display contemplating its own mortality.
Kid Mai Death Awareness Cafe
This classic London pub has a surprising history behind it.
John Snow
The beef, Guinness, and oyster pie sports a rich, flaky crust.
The Guinea
Welcome to one of the only floating pubs in the world.
Tamesis Dock
This may be the oldest pie in the world.
St Helens 'Oldest Pie' at The Turks Head
Recent Stories
All Stories Video Podcast
Most Recent Stories
View All Stories »
Decoy’s wines reflect the terroir of California.
How a Wooden Duck Migrated From the California Wetlands to a Wine Label
12 days ago
There’s more to the French capital than the Eiffel Tower.
Dear Atlas: What Are Some Non-Touristy Things to Do in Paris?
15 days ago
The plants around Liz Dauncey in this photo are not poisonous, but many common garden and houseplants are.
Are Some of Your Favorite Houseplants Poisonous? AO Wants to Know.
22 days ago
“There may be a collective sense of a dark loneliness,” Dahl says, referring to Norway’s natural landscape.
In Norway, Easter Means Tucking Into Crime Stories
22 days ago

No search results found for
“”

Make sure words are spelled correctly.

Try searching for a travel destination.

Places near me Random place

Popular Destinations

  • Paris
  • London
  • New York
  • Berlin
  • Rome
  • Los Angeles
Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters
Sign In Join
Places near me Random place
All Spain Daroca La Mina de Daroca
AO Edited

La Mina de Daroca

This tunnel was built in order to protect the village of Daroca from flash floods during rainy seasons.

Daroca, Spain

Added By
frecklesonly
Email
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list
The entrance to the Mine   frecklesonly / Atlas Obscura User
The entrance to the Mine   frecklesonly / Atlas Obscura User
Inside of the Mine   frecklesonly / Atlas Obscura User
The exit of the Mine   frecklesonly / Atlas Obscura User
The view from the other side of the Mine   frecklesonly / Atlas Obscura User
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list

About

Arriving in Daroca from the north, just before entering the old town, on your left you will see a mysterious tunnel. It's called La Mina (the Mine). But don't let the name fool you. It wasn't built for mining or exploratory purposes. 

It dates back almost five centuries, to 1560. The town's main street, Calle Mayor de Daroca, follows along the bottom of a ravine. During heavy rains, torrential floods of water flowed through Daroca, causing serious damage along the way.

In order to protect the village during rainy seasons, this tunnel was built to direct water through the tunnel instead of the village streets. The French architect Pierres Bedel was hired to lead the project. Starting in 1555, teams start excavating at either end of the rock where the tunnel would be. It took five years of digging through the rock, but the teams finally met in the middle on September 7, 1560. A 300-meter-long wall was built to direct water towards the tunnel and protect the city wall.

Although the tunnel is only 600 meters long, one might feel a little uncomfortable while passing through it. Nevertheless, the views of the Aragonese red rocks and the ravine they form on the other side of La Mina are absolutely mesmerizing and worth the claustrophobic hike.

If you continue walking along the ravine you will end up on the other side of Daroca and can come back to the village. Occasionally, bats have been seen in the tunnel. 

Related Tags

Tunnels Floods Subterranean Sites Water

Know Before You Go

It is dangerous to visit La Mina (the Mine) during rainy seasons.

There is no natural light in the tunnel, a flashlight is recommended (the one on a smartphone is enough).

Community Contributors

Added By

frecklesonly

Edited By

Osage

  • Osage

Published

May 27, 2021

Edit this listing

Make an Edit
Add Photos
Sources
  • http://www.daroca.es/turismo/monumentos/la-mina/
La Mina de Daroca
6 Calle la Mina
Daroca, 50360
Spain
41.113623, -1.409419
Visit Website
Get Directions

Nearby Places

Monasterio de Piedra

Nuévalos, Spain

miles away

Castillo de Zafra

Campillo de Dueñas, Spain

miles away

Santuario de la Virgen de Jaraba

Jaraba, Spain

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Spain

Spain

Europe

Places 748
Stories 37

Nearby Places

Monasterio de Piedra

Nuévalos, Spain

miles away

Castillo de Zafra

Campillo de Dueñas, Spain

miles away

Santuario de la Virgen de Jaraba

Jaraba, Spain

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Spain

Spain

Europe

Places 748
Stories 37

Related Places

  • Underneath Molle Street

    Hobart, Australia

    Hobart Rivulet

    This urban stream flowing underneath Tasmania's capital city is also an unofficial gallery for street artists.

  • Acequia Madre.

    Santiago de Querétaro, Mexico

    Acequia Madre

    The remains of a centuries-old water system that inspired local legends of secret tunnels.

  • Peñíscola, Spain

    Bufador de Peñiscola

    The blowhole bursts spectacularly right next to the buildings in a medieval seaside town.

  • Covão dos Conchos.

    Portugal

    Covão dos Conchos

    This gaping hole in the middle of a remote mountain lake looks like a portal to another dimension.

  • Pipes that come down the mountain provide water to the people.

    La Palma, Spain

    Pajarito Water Tunnels

    These crevices cut into the mountains collect the island’s main source of precious freshwater.

  • The tunnel through the limestone rock.

    San Lawrenz, Malta

    The Inland Sea

    The fishing boats that moor in this small lagoon enter and leave through a tunnel to the sea.

  • Salzburg Almkanal, Städtischer Arm

    Salzburg, Austria

    Almkanal of Salzburg

    The medieval network of canals hidden underneath the city is opened to explorers each year.

  • Washington, D.C.

    Washington Aqueduct Emergency Pumping Station

    These abandoned waterworks are crumbling into the Potomac River.

Aerial image of Vietnam, displaying the picturesque rice terraces, characterized by their layered, verdant fields.
Atlas Obscura Membership

Become an Atlas Obscura Member


Join our community of curious explorers.

Become a Member

Get Our Email Newsletter

Follow Us

Facebook YouTube TikTok Instagram Pinterest RSS Feed

Get the app

Download the App
Download on the Apple App Store Get it on Google Play
  • All Places
  • Latest Places
  • Most Popular
  • Places to Eat
  • Random
  • Nearby
  • Add a Place
  • Stories
  • Food & Drink
  • Itineraries
  • Lists
  • Video
  • Podcast
  • Newsletters
  • All Trips
  • Family Trip
  • Food & Drink
  • History & Culture
  • Wildlife & Nature
  • FAQ
  • Membership
  • Feedback & Ideas
  • Community Guidelines
  • Product Blog
  • Unique Gifts
  • Work With Us
  • About
  • FAQ
  • Advertise With Us
  • Advertising Guidelines
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy
  • Terms of Use
Atlas Obscura

© 2025 Atlas Obscura. All Rights Reserved.