 Lapis
Specularis is a type of translucent gypsum, which was very much appreciated
as a mineral for the making of crystal windows and other decorative items
in ancient Rome.
 Back
in 1953, in the village of Torrejoncillo
del Rey in Cuenca Province, Castilla-la Mancha, a local resident accidentally
discovered an old Roman mine, which had supplied this “glass of Hispania”
as it was known to the Roman Empire of the past.
The mine is located on a
small hill known as the “Cerro
de la Mora Encantada,” a place full of legends and history which apparently
revealed the treasures of a Moorish Princess.
 In
the mine can be seen a spectacular display of the crystals, which were
used in Roman times to create windows and other items. This is just
one of many similar mines found in the area and consists of over a thousand
meters in length, and over 40 meters deep with three levels to explore.
Visitors can nowadays explore
the history in the depths of this 2,000 year old mine, viewing the rooms
and galleries which still show the traces of the mining tools used in the
past, as well as a crystal geological display of sheer beauty on the walls
and ceilings throughout.
The video below takes you
on a virtual tour of the mine: |
