The Petra of Andalusia

In the heart of Andalusia, discover just how far the mastery of stone sculpture developed

Fascinating forms carved out with the skill of the stone sculptor; a stable temperature, and the mesmerising sensation of being in a chamber that towers up to 25 metres above you: there is a hidden corner of Andalusia where time stands still and turns to stone.

Since time immemorial, the highest hill overlooking the town of Osuna has served as a quarry, providing the building blocks with which many of the sunny, whitewashed houses, illustrious palaces and fantastic churches in this ducal town (it is the seat of the Duchy of Osuna) in the province of Seville.

Its porous, ochre-coloured stone – calcareous sandstone – is the star of Coto Las Canteras [literally, ‘Reserve of the Quarries’]. Its colour and texture have brought character and vivacity to the city from its occupation by the ancient Turdetani population to the mid-twentieth century.
All of this history is brought to life in the present at ‘Petra of Andalusia’, the Quarries of Osuna, making it a truly unmissable visit. Beyond its valuable collection of equipment and tools used to extract and transport the stone, visiting this quarry is a way to really come to understand a city that is bound to enchant you.

At each blow of the espiochas [a type of pick-axe], Coto Las Canderas began to take shape. However, due to a wide layer of rock that was so hard that it broke the workers’ tools, the excavation continued below that layer, which in some parts now acts as a roof.

Later, with the decline in the quarry’s use at the end of the 1960s, the site was used for storage, and even as a granary.

Today, the Petra of Andalusia spreads across over 4,000 square metres of gardens, in which visitors can find various native species. This is a space in which another beautiful spot is always around the corner: it’s ideal for concerts, weddings, cultural events, outdoor receptions, and a spectacular setting for audiovisual productions.

Outside you can also find magnificently-executed sculptures and stone carvings which, together with the breathtaking façade of Coto Las Canteras, makes this a space beyond compare: a genuine must-see.

On the inside, a spectacular chamber reaches a height of 25 metres, with a stable temperature of 22 degrees Centigrade and exceptional, absorbing acoustics.