 Ronda,
Spain - Magical Mountain Top City in Andalucia, Southern Spain
by Anne Sewell
| When visiting Andalucia,
I would highly recommend making the trip to Ronda. The winding roads
up the mountainside can be a little daunting, but what a view all the way
to the top!
Ronda is one of the oldest
cities in Spain, having origins in the Neolithic age. Wonderful cave
paintings were discovered, including the famous Pileta's Cave, depicting
paintings from the Paleolithic age.
Its mountain top location
made it an ideal location to build a city - very easy to defend.
The first builders were the Romans, and many examples of their architecture
can still be viewed in the city today.
The Moors then made their
mark, and built the walls, gates and arches of the city, which are still
very much intact. You can stroll alongside the walls, enjoying the
fabulous views… or visit the Arab Baths, still in an excellent state of
repair. State protected because of historic interest in 1931, these baths
were built at the end of the 13th century or start of the 14th century.
Another fascinating building
to visit is the Casa del Rey Moro - or House of the Moorish King - which
appears to be from the 18th Century. The house itself is in a dilapidated
condition, but the first floor has been restored, and contains the tourist
office. |
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Well worth a visit to the
gardens of the house, which were constructed by the great French Landscaper
Forestier in 1912. The house also has a mine which you can visit,
which consists of a wide zigzagging staircase carved into the rock, covered
by a fascinating system of stacked vaults. Visit the Sala del Manantial
(Room of the Spring) from which slaves brought water to the King.
The hub of Ronda is the "New
Bridge", that divides the city, over a deep gorge - El Tajo, with houses
literally hanging on the edges of the cliffs. Right next door is the lovely
Alameda del Tajo Park - perfect for a restful stroll after your busy sightseeing,
and also the Blas Infante viewpoint where you can stand on a balcony over...
a huge drop!
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Famous people love this
city - close to the Alameda del Tajo Park, you can visit the Paseo de Orson
Wells - the famous actor loved Ronda and is, in fact, buried there.
Ernest Hemingway was also very fond of the city and the Paseo de Hemingway
has been named for him. He visited Spain during the Spanish Civil
War, to report for the North American Newspaper Alliance.
The Plaza de Toros, or Bullring,
of Ronda, is the oldest in Spain and was officially inaugurated in 1785
by the two bullfighters, Pedro Romero and Pepe Hillo. It is possible
to visit the bullring, its museum and the surrounding buildings and paddocks.
Outside the entrance to the bullring are statues to two famous bullfighters
of Ronda, Cayetano Ordonez and Antonio Ordonez.
Strolling the streets of
Ronda is like taking a step back in time - narrow streets with attractive
buildings, tapas bars and restaurants - and wonderful shops. You
will also come across interesting museums, like the Museo del Bandelero…
lots of beautiful churches and lovely plazas and sidewalk cafes to rest
and catch your breath.
It is difficult to mention
all the wonderful attractions of this city in one article, but this is
definitely a must-visit part of your Spanish tour! |
One little warning - try
and stay a minimum of 3 days, otherwise you'll miss out on a lot of the
attractions. Wear good comfortable walking shoes, and if visiting
in summer, always carry a bottle of water.. it gets hot in Ronda.
top
For accommodation in Ronda,
visit All Spain Accommodation
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About the Author: Anne
Sewell lives in Fuengirola, Spain and runs the website, All
Cape Accommodation |
