Or monumental limestone quarries

S'Hostal Quarries is located very close to Ciutadella. These are currently inactive limestone quarries. The quarries cover an area of 7 hectares. Mining here began in the 19th century and ended in 1994. The local stone was used mainly for construction purposes.
Entrance to the quarry
The quarry is entered through the ticket office during opening hours. I recommend setting aside at least two hours for the tour. Walking through the entire quarry in peace is really worth it. It is possible to choose several routes in the quarry. Due to time constraints, we stuck to the main route. Right at the beginning of the main route, we were greeted by a breathtaking view of the bottom of the newer part of the quarry, where a labyrinth of limestone blocks is created.

Older part of the quarry
However, the route leads us first to the older part of the quarry. As we read in the information leaflet, this part was cut out by hand using hammers.

Botanic Garden
The older part of the quarry also serves as a botanical garden. It should be mentioned that the interior of the quarry is much hotter than the surroundings. Here we can admire specimens of the local Mediterranean flora together with their names.

Nooks and crannies
Deeper in the bowels of the quarry, somewhat harder to find, there is a smaller „garden“ with a fountain. Here is a wonderful calm and pleasant atmosphere.

Old vs. new
In some places, you can see the difference in mining methods. The quarry is partially still active.

New part
After descending into the more modern part of the quarry, however, one feels as if from another world. Towering above you are monumental walls covered in notches from cutting machines. There are also excellent acoustics, which is the reason why the bottom of the quarry is used for occasional concerts.

Atmosphere
The atmosphere is enhanced by the fact that there are only three of us in the entire quarry area. The only thing we hear here is the singing of the birds, which bounces off the walls. It must be added that the heat between the stone walls is really extreme.

Technology
In the guide, you can read about the mining method, however, the technique used for this can be seen with your own eyes.

Maze
The local labyrinth is also fun for children and adults. Successfully getting to the center and out again is a harder task than it might seem.

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