R O N D A
Situated in the far north west of the province of Málaga, Ronda sits on an outcrop of rock in a basin surrounded by mountain ranges, the height and length of which make access to the town difficult. This fact, together with the climate, hydrology and geology of the area, has left an indelible stamp on its history.
One of oldest towns in Spain, Ronda has its origins in prehistory. The cave of the Pileta, a true relic of Andalusian stone age art, is one of the most significant remains of this period together with various groups of megalithic monuments such as the Dolmen of the Chopo ( Poplar ).
Scattered around the province one finds various remains from the Roman period, the most important being the archeological site of the Roman town of Acinipo.
Nevertheless, the most striking aspect of the cultural heritage of Ronda and ist surroundings is Arabic, Under muslim rule the town rose to importance as the capital of one of the live coras of Al-Andalus. This influence has impregnated the style of building, the gastronomy, agricultural practices and many other traditions in the region.
The conquest of the town by the Catholic Kings in 1485 was followed by a period of cultural and structural reorganization, but not until the 18 th century did the role of the town become clear in the general context of Andalusia. It was during this period that Ronda´s most significant and emblematic monuments were built; the New Bridge and the Bullring.
The romantic image of the town was forged, without doubt, during the 19 th century with banditry and bullfighting making a strong impression on the minds of distinguished travellers. These two aspects have since become symbolic of the culture and traditions of the area, nevertheless, Ronda has a wealth of culture and tradition which goes beyond this over simplified image, and it is this diversity on which the present day attraction of the town and the Serranía is based.
CATALOGUE OF MONUMENTS
·
Prehistoric:
Pileta Cave (28,000 – 8,000 bc.)
Cave
of the Cat (Neolithic remains) Of interest to cavers . (8,000
–5,000 bc.)
Prehistoric
dwellings on the site of Acinipo.
Archaeological
sites around the old town of Ronda
·
Dolmens: (2,500 – 2,000 bc.):
El Chopo (Grazalema Crossroads)
Buendía
(opposite the Benaoján-Montejaque crossroads)
Encinas
Borrachas, on the road to Algeciras. On the plains of this name. Between Ronda
and Atajate.
Group
of Dolmens . In the Gorge of Algarín. El
Gastor –Cádiz-
Near
the village of Alcalá del Valle.
Cista
Burial in Montecorto.
Funeral
complex near Alcalá del Valle.
·
Roman I-V
Century:
Archaelogical
site of the Roman City of Acinipo (theatre, forum, baths)
Two
statues on the main stairs of the Town Hall.
Roman
Kilns in Cuevas del Becerro.
·
Arab VIII
– XV Century:
Urban
layout of “the city”, the old
medina.
Walls
of the medina and remains of the Alcazaba.
Gate
of Almocábar
Gate
of el Viento
Gate
of los Molinos
Gate
of los Esparteros
Gate
of la Cijara
Arab
Baths
Underground
mine in the House of the Moorish King
Vault
and remains inside the small palace of Santa Pola
The
House of the Giant
Minaret
of the church of Saint Sebastian
Arch
inside the main church (Santa Maria)
Structure
and horseshoe arches of the “House of the Sacristan” in the main church
·
Mozarab IX-X Century:
Virgen
de la Cabeza Church
Church
of the Oscuridad in the Padre Jesus quarter
The
so-called house of stone in Cortes de la Frontera
· Mudejar:
Coffered
ceiling XV-XVI Century:
Mondragón
Palace
Town
Hall
Convent
of Saint Domingo
Convent
of Saint Isabel de los Angeles
Arch
on the second floor in the cloister of the Madre de Dios Convent.
·
Gothic XV- XVI Century:
Church
of the Holy Ghost. (Late Gothic)
Santo
Domingo Convent
Descalzos
Viejos Convent (Future hotel and wine cellar in construction)
Padre
Jesus Church –Façade- . (Late Gothic)
Layout,
arches of the choir and retrochoir of Santa
Maria la Mayor
Virgen
de Gracia Church (partially in ruins)
·
Isabelline XV Century:
·
Renaissance XVI Century:
Carlos
V Gate, in the Almocabar Walls.
Indoor
façade and cloister in Madre de Dios Convent. Padre Jesus Quarter.
Naves
next to the main altar in Santa Maria la Mayor
Cloister
in Saint Domingo Convent
Façade
of los Gomez de las Cortinas house.
Pulpit
of the chapel of Madre de Dios
·
Baroque XVII-XVIII Century:
La
Merced Church
Palacio
Santa
Cecilia Church
Chapel
of Madre de Dios
Virgen
de la Paz Church
Retrochoir
Altarpiece in Saint Mary’s Church
Shrine
Temple of the Virgen de los Dolores
Pediment
of the Animas inn
Clarisas
Convent
Caridad
Convent
Concepción
Church
Virgen
del Carmen Church
Altarpieces
in Saint Mary’s Church
Baldachin
of the main Altar
Marquis
of Salvatierra Palace
Façade
of Mondragon Palace
Animas
Inn
Bullring
Fountain
of eight springs
Arch
of Philip V
Present
Town Hall. Former Military Headquarters.
Façade
of Santa Ana courtyard in Padre Jesus quarter
·
Bridges:
The
New Bridge. Built by Martin Aldehuela from 1750 to
1793.
Old
Bridge XVI century
Arab
Bridge, next to Arab Baths. XI
century
·
Modernist
and eclectic:
Building
of the Circle of Artists. Socorro Square
Street
lamps and Kiosk in the Alameda Park
Enclosed
Balcony in the Promenade of Blas Infante
Don
Bosco’s House
Several
houses in Armiñan, Tiendas, Sevilla, Espinel and Virgen de la Paz streets.
·
Ronda style Forged Ironwork :
The balcony in the
main façade of the Bullring.
The
balcony in the façade of Marquis
of Salvatierra Palace
Balconies
in the New Bridge
Lamp
in Saint Mary’s Church
Many
grilles and balconies in houses of Ronda and the area.
Timetables
can change.
Local
Tourist Office
Paseo
de Blas Infante s/n
Å 952 18 71 19
TIMES:
Monday to Friday 9:30 to 20:00
Saturday
and Sunday 10:00 to 18:30 – Closed from 14:00 to 15:00
Junta
Andalucía Office
Plaza de España s/n
TIMES:
Monday to Friday 9:00 to 19:00
Saturday
and Sunday 10:00 to 14:00
Å 952
87 12 72
“La Merced”
Church
Pasaje
San Juán de Letrán
TIMES:
10:15 to 13:15 // 16:45 to 18:45
Bullring and museum
TIMES:
10:00-20:00 (Summer)19:00 (Spring)18:00 (Winter)
New Bridge
New
Bridge Interpretation Centre
From
September 200 on wards
TIMES:10:00-19:00
(Monday to Friday)18:00 (1 November -1 March)
10:00-15:00
(Saturday, Sunday and holidays)
D. Bosco’s house
C/Tenorio nº20
TIMES:
9:00 to 18:30
Mondragón
Palace (
Local Museum)
Plaza Mondragón
Å 952 87 84 50
TIMES:10:00-19:00
(Monday to Friday)18:00 (1 November -1 March)
10:00-15:00
(Saturday, Sunday and holidays)
Santa
María’s Church
Plaza Duquesa de Parcent
Å 952 87 22 46
952 87 8653
TIMES: 10:00 - 19:00-20:00 (Summer)-21:00 (August and during
Fair)
(Closed:
Saturday evenings for weddings and Sunday for mass from 12:30 –13:45)
Virgen
de la Paz” Church
Plaza Beato Diego José de
Cádiz
Å
952
87 12 89
TIMES: 9:00 -20:30 Open everyday. Entrance
free
Clarisas - Convent
Plaza Duquesa de Parcent
TIMES: 9:30—13:00
and 16:00 -19:30 (Sunday to Friday)
Å 952
87 24 75
Entrance free
Moorish
King’ s House
(Gardens and Mine)
Cuesta de Santo Domingo n917
Å
952
18 72 00
TIMES:
10:00 - 19:00
Arab Baths
Barrio de Padre Jesús
Å
952
87 38 89
TIMES:
Tuesday: 9:30 -13:30 and 16:00 -18:00 Wednesday to Saturday: 9:30-15:30
Closed:
Sunday and Monday
Entrance free
C/ Real nº
13
Å 952
87 29 87
C/Armiñán
nº 65
Å 952
87 77 85
TIMES:10:00
- 20:00
C/Armiñán nº59
Å 952
87 78 62
TIMES: 10:00-20:00 (Summer)
Art and collection
C/Armiñán nº29
Å 952
87 12 63
TIMES:
10:30-20:00
Open everyday
Church of the Holy Spirit
C/ Espíritu Santo-Barrio de
San Francisco
Å 952
87 49 28
TIMES: 10:00-19:30
(Monday to Friday).
“Virgen de la Cabeza” Church
Road to Algeciras, 2 kms from
Ronda
Å 64936 57 72
TIMES: Monday to
Friday: 10:00-14:00 and 17:00-20:00
(Summer)
10:00—14:00 and 17:00—19:00
(Spring)
Saturday, Sunday and holidays: 10:00—15:00
Roman ruins
Road to Sevílle, .12 kms from
Ronda
Å 952
21 36 40
TIMES: Tuesday to
Sunday : 10:00 17:00
Sunday:
10:00—15:00
Monday and Tuesday: closed. Entrance free
In
Benaoján, 22 kms from Ronda
Å 952 16 73 43
TIMES: 10:00-13:00
(Entrance of last group)
16:00-17:00 (Entrance of last group)
Approximately one hour’s visit
Open everyday
FAIRS AND FESTES
There are a lot of fests in our city all over the year.
TRADITIONAL PROCESSION OF KINGS: it happens the 5 th January at night; a large procession over the streets of the city only for the happiness and wishes of the children.
CARNIVALS: a lot of inhabitants wear nice disguises and singing mischievous songs in crowds, chirigotas, murgas and comparsas. You can breath the mood in the streets.
EASTER: declared Touristy Interesting in Andalucía. It is the most emotional event because the passion and devotion of fields.
REAL FAIR OF RONDA: Conferred to our city by the Catholics Kings. It happens between 20 and 22 May.
Some activities and expositions of the fair:
Traditional livestock Market.
Livestock exposition sheeps, pigs, etc and selected races.
Exposition and Competition of Pure Spanish Race horses.
Food demonstration of typical products of the Serranía of Ronda.
Province plough competition.
Exposition of machinery and farming products.
Exposition of canaries....
ROMERÍA VIRGIN OF CABEZA: it happens the second Sunday in June. There is a procession from Ronda to the church of Ntra. Sra. de la Cabeza, where you can enjoy the best views of the city.
THE CORPUS: Day of God, it is other very important fest in the zone. It happens in June.
FLAMENCO SINGING FESTIVAL: It happens at the end of August. You can enjoy of the guitar and the voice of the most important artists of the flamenco.
FERIA AND FEST OF PEDRO ROMERO: they are the most important fests. It happens at the beginning of September. The bullfighters wear traditional clothes in honor of Pedro Romero, the most famous rondeño bullfighter.
During the day you can enjoy of the fair of the center and at night the fest continue in the Great Fair Enclosure where the wine and the sevillanas (a traditional dance) show to the visitant the Andalusia flavor. Part of the week of fair you can admire the competition of traditional dances of the world and the Goyesca Bullfight.
Now you have a few photos of scenes or our fests, like the visit of the King Juan Carlos I, famous bullfighters like José Tomás or Jesulín of Ubrique and catholics images.
Thank you very much for the help of Javier, of Baca Optic, a young photographer more professional than amateur who go all time with his camera in the hand.
