An homage to craftsmanship and tradition
The Colmenar de Oreja Stone Museum is more than just a collection; it is the pinnacle of a dream held by the Figueroa Sanz family, eager to show the world the legacy of Colmenar limestone. This stone of exceptional quality and beauty was painstakingly extracted from the innards of the earth by the people of Colmenar, who turned it into raw material for masterpieces such as the Royal Palaces of Madrid and Aranjuez, the Puerta de Alcalá, the Bank of Spain, the Prado Museum and the Almudena Cathedral, among other architectural wonders that grace Madrid.
Located in what was once a limestone quarry used to enlarge the parish church, this museum is a tribute to local craftsmanship and history. Here, visitors have the privilege of seeing a fascinating collection of machinery and tools used in the quarrying and cutting of stone, and can learn about other notable trades in the municipality, such as dyeing, esparto grass weaving, agriculture and livestock farming. Exact replicas of a hut and a clay jar oven take visitors to times gone by, when life in Colmenar de Oreja was intertwined with earth and stone, and work was an art in itse
