This is a PS to the earlier Living with boulders post. Thanks to David W. for telling me about this town. It’s the Spanish town of Setenil, or Setenil de las Bodegas, and many of its original houses are built into natural caves under a rock overhang. The caves were carved out of volcanic tufa rock by the Rio Trejo and have been occupied since prehistoric times, but the facades were added later. Cool in summer, warm in winter, and once upon a time easily defended against centuries of attack. In Spanish the name for this sort of housing is “abrigo bajo rocas”, literally “shelter under rocks.” More here. Photos by maesejose, Carl Galloway and El Pantera.
4 comments on "The Spanish town of Setenil, built under a rock overhang"
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amazing. have you seen that temple that clings tot he cliffs in china? this kind of reminds me of it – i love architecture built with nature
The car parked along the area where the lawn chairs are scattered is a testament to dense mixed use. I toured western NC with a young woman who grew up in the Pyrenees. She loved the mountains here, but couldn’t adjust to being unable to park on the sidewalk. It was among the things that tore us apart. Sniff.
But, as usual, she was right.
For Further info:
http://www.setenil.com
turismosetenil.blogspot.com
http://www.twitter.com/setenil
http://www.facebook.com/setenil
Thanks
this is awsome!!!!!! i have never heard of this before….