The most beautiful street in Europe is located in Spain according to UNESCO and is a real architectural treasure. This emblematic place is not only known for its beauty, but also for its rich cultural heritage that you can see in every corner. It is not for nothing that it is considered an open-air museum of architecture.
It is Calle San Pedro in Osuna, a town of 17,418 inhabitants, 90 km southeast of the city of Seville (an hour’s drive), in the Andalucia region.
What makes this street so unique?
Several factors contribute to the special and unique character of this street. To begin with, you will find different architectural styles. This place is therefore an example of evolution over time, with its baroque palaces and houses with classicist details.
Surrounded by palaces
Just 300 metres from the street are several palaces, which creates an unusual density of monumental buildings. For example, the Palacio del Marqués de la Gomera, an imposing baroque building from the 18th century that today serves as a luxury hotel. It stands out for its majestic stone façade and is the most impressive of all the palaces in the city.
More architectural richness
Other buildings that contribute to the architectural richness of the area are the Cilla del Cabildo, also from the 18th century, and the Palacio de los Cepeda, with its distinct Baroque style. The latter building now houses the courthouse. The facades of the buildings in Calle San Pedro are an example of the architectural grandeur of that period.
UNESCO has highlighted the harmony that exists between the houses and palaces that make up it. Here you can see classicist doors, mighty heraldic coats of arms, and the wrought iron work on the balconies.
Set of several films
Considered the most beautiful in all of Europe, this street has aroused the interest of several film directors. Numerous well-known productions have been filmed there, such as Carmen by Vicente Aranda or Engaños by Álvaro Begines. The Italian director Franco Zeffirelli also chose the street as the setting for the shooting of his film about the life of the Greek soprano Maria Callas: Callas Forever.