Madrid Cercedilla: Stone Carving Workshop & Forest Walk

4.64

(11 reviews)

What’s the experience like?

You’re just there, hands wrapped around a chisel, the cool weight of marble under your palm. I remember the first tap — not too hard, but enough to send a little shiver up my arm. The workshop is tucked away in Cercedilla, about an hour from Madrid, and you can smell pine needles if you step outside for air. Our guide, Marta, showed us how to hold the tools (she’s patient — I definitely needed that). There was this quiet hum as everyone settled into their own rhythm, chips of stone falling onto the tarp. I didn’t expect it to feel so meditative.

We could pick between marble, sandstone, or chalk — I went for sandstone because it looked forgiving (it wasn’t, really). Marta wandered by now and then with tips or just a smile. Someone’s phone buzzed but nobody checked it; you sort of forget about time here. Coffee and tea were set out on a little table by the window. I took mine outside for a minute and watched two old men arguing gently over chess at the café across the street — no idea who won.

Afterwards, some of us walked into the forest nearby. It’s not far — maybe fifteen minutes before you’re under tall trees and everything smells green and damp. My hands still felt gritty from the stone dust. Lunch in the village was easy: just picked a café that looked busy (always a good sign), ordered whatever they recommended. I still think about that bread — warm and crusty, perfect after a morning spent making something with your own hands.