Seville Snapshots: The Village of Osuna

There’s nothing like the open road and the feel of torque under your feet (feet, because I drive stick shift now!) and a new destination to tick off your must-sees list. Hayley, my Spanish media naranja, and I agreed to meet halfway in between our respected cities for lunch in Osuna and a bit of Saturday sight-seeing.

Que Dios bendiga las girlfriends.

The village of Osuna lies midway between Seville and Antequera, a little burp of civilization built upon a lone hill. Fun fact: its flag and coat of arms bears, well, two bears along with a topless woman. This pueblo and I would get along fine, even though it’s better known for being the last place where Julius Caesar fought in person (and the town’s name comes from Urso, ‘bear’ in Latin).

The whitewashed town, crowned by an old university and sprawling church, was sleepy for a warm Saturday, but perfect for a few hours’ lunch over Camino and business plans. It’s not hard on the eyes, either.

Oh, and here’s a bonus one of me and my car, El Pequeño Monty, a 2002 Peugeot 307. Bought my first coche at the ripe old age of 27-and-three-quarters!

Love your little rinconcito of Spain? Sunshine and Siestas is looking for guest bloggers for the busy summer months of late June – mid August while Cat is galivanting in Galicia at summer camp and walking the Camino de Santiago for charity. If you’re interested, send an email to sunshineandsiestas[at]gmail[dot]com with your ideas, photos and stories.

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About Cat Gaa

As a beef-loving Chicago girl living amongst pigs, bullfighters, and a whole lotta canis, Cat Gaa writes about expat life in Seville, Spain. When not cavorting with adorable Spanish grandpas or struggling with Spanish prepositions, she works in higher education at an American university in Madrid and freelances with other publications, like Rough Guides and The Spain Scoop.

Comments

  1. i heart you!

  2. Great photos!!
    Christine recently posted..Rome-ing: My Photo Diary Through The Eternal CityMy Profile

  3. What a cute place! It looks like it has some amazing views. And congrats on your new car – that’s exciting!
    Jessica of HolaYessica recently posted..Spain’s Prettiest Secret FestivalMy Profile

    • Sunshine and Siestas says:

      You know I love the pueblos blancos! I’m glad I saved the trip for a day when we could really enjoy it without just passing through.

  4. I go to the south of Spain all the time. I will check out Osuna next time.
    Jaklien recently posted..Pinxtos Bars in Basque CountryMy Profile

    • Sunshine and Siestas says:

      Let me know when you’re around Seville! I’m here nearly year-round. Osuna is a nice stop if you’re headed towards Antequera, Granada or Málaga, for sure.

  5. I’m a global nomad looking for a place to grow some roots. Maybe this is it? What a lovely little place, but perhaps a bit lonely for an expat?
    Miss Footloose | Life in the Expat Lane recently posted..Living Abroad: Who Else Wants to Live in Paradise?My Profile

    • Sunshine and Siestas says:

      It’s a rather large town, about 18,000. Didn’t hear any English, so if you’re looking to improve your Spanish, living in a pueblo si the way to go. I’d also suggest Antequera, which is an hour from Osuna towards Malaga and nearly twice as big with a high-speed train line, several English academies and close enough to Granada, Seville and Malaga. Ven!!

  6. Beautiful place and congrats on your new car! Great pic!

  7. For some reason when I saw media naranja on Twitter, I thought you meant you went with Kike haha.

    This place is super cute! I don’t think an ugly Andalusian pueblo blanco exists.
    amelie88 recently posted..The Alcatraz of the East Coast: Inside the Walls of Eastern State PenitentiaryMy Profile

    • Sunshine and Siestas says:

      Hahaha! It’s like that Sex and the City quote about soul mates that Charlotte says after her divorce. Hayley and I have very, very similar lives in Spain, and we found one another through the internet! And agreed on the pueblos blancos – they’re so special!

  8. I will be sharing this with my Osuna friend!
    Kaley [Y Mucho Más] recently posted..The Begijnhof, Bruges’ Benedictine ConventMy Profile

  9. Looks like a really nice place, but then again, most the places (if not all) you’ve been to so far have been pretty darn nice. I guess that’s what I’ve come to expect from you.

    No pressure now.

    Just be awesome all the time, okay?

    No pressure.
    Dale recently posted..11 Great Volunteer-Ready Dog Shelters In ThailandMy Profile

    • Sunshine and Siestas says:

      Not all places I’ve been to are that pretty (I was born in Detroit, after all!). As for pressure…bring it on!

  10. Your photos keep getting better and better. Love the image of the Monasterio. That is a cute little car. Is that a diesel too? It will last you forever.
    I will be following your aventuras por El Camino…
    Eduardo@Andaremos recently posted..Montserrat – the serrated mountain near BarcelonaMy Profile

    • Sunshine and Siestas says:

      Thank you, Eduardo – I’m flattered! I just shot my first wedding and finally feel like Camarón and I are getting to know one another better.

  11. Fascinating history and beautiful scenery. Adding Osuna to my list for our next trip to Spain :-)
    Gayla recently posted..What to see in Siena – Il Duomo di SienaMy Profile

  12. Just got back from Osuna. Lovely town, great architecture. Fabulous hotel. Hope to go back, but as there are so many incredible places still to visit after 20 years here, it might not happen!

Trackbacks

  1. […] and stone buildings of La Capital are beautiful, I prefer the crumbling, whitewashed walls of Andalusian villages like Osuna or Arcos. To me, the hallmarks of Andalusian architecture help it stand out from Madrid’s […]

  2. […] stay overnight before catching a flight early the next morning. What’s going to happen to my Pequeño Monty, my beloved new car? I remembered my dad, a travel hacker extraordinaire, always seeking out the best options for when […]

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