Ronda in an arab style
The beautiful town of Ronda lies 60km up a winding mountain road from Marbella in the mountain range known as the Serranía de Ronda. It stands at an altitude of 739 m and has approximately 35,000 inhabitants. It is one of the most visited towns in Andalucia. Ronda, the Capital City of the surrounding highlands "La Serrania", breaks with all the preconceived ideas of the traditional Andalusia, a dreamlike tour through its narrows winding lanes and the Arab style severe houses façades hiding the beautiful patios full of flowers and water.
Rondas atmosphere is unique.
Its historic character can certainly inspire meditation, whilst its traditions, buildings, thronged squares, clear skies, beautiful women, scent of fine sherry and sound of guitars, and memories left by bandits all contribute to an atmosphere which can not be found anywhere else.
Ronda is the most genuine expression of Andalusias essence. Visitors will thrill to the friendliness and gaiety of its citizens, the tradition of hospitality and welcome to peoples of all races, its picturesque "tapa" bars and restaurants, its winding streets, bordered by simple whitewashed houses, or stately mansions, its endless fascination.
Ronda is situated in the furthermost northwest tip of the province of Málaga,in a basin surrounded by mountains. The continuity and height of these mountains make the town inaccessible, which together with Rondas climatological, hidrological and geological characteristics, has determined the area throughout its history.
Ronda, one of the oldest towns in Spain, has its origin in the prehistoric period. Amongst the most significant remains from this period we should draw attention to the Cave of the Pileta, true relic of Andalusian rural art, and the various groups of megalithic monuments,such as the Dolmen of the Poplar.
Scattered about the province, we can see a number of remains from the Roman period, the most important of which is the archeological site of the Roman town of Acinipo.
However, the most visible cultural heritage of Ronda and its surrounding area is Arab. Under the Muslims, Ronda became important as the capital of one of the five Kovas of Al-Andalus. With time, this culture impregnated our buildings, gastronomy, traditions, crop farming, etc.
After the conquest of the town by the Catholic Sovereigns in 1485 there was a new cultural and structural reorganization, although it was not until the 18th. century that the role of the town in the general context of Andalucia became clear. It was during this period that Rondas most significant and emblematic monuments were built; the New Bridge and the Bull Ring.
It was during the 19th. century, without any doubt, that the romantic image of our town was forged; an image in which "bandoleros" and bullfighters were the favourites of the distinguished travellers, since they had become symbolic of our traditional culture- a culture which is, however, much wider and much more diverse than these pleasant cliches on which todays Ronda and its Serrania is based.
BULLRING
The Plaza de Toros was inaugurated on 11th May 1784, but following the collapse of part of the seating area, it was only finished in 1785.
The ring belongs to the Royal Order of Cavalry, and is the oldest in Spain and the largest in the world.
Built totally of stone, it has a simple neoclassical baroque entrance, with a small balcony decorated with Ronda wrought iron with bullfighting motifs, supported by Tuscan columns, with the royal coat of arms in the centre.
On the right hand side of the Puente Viejo (the old bridge over the Tajo), a rustic narrow staircase leads down to the Arab baths, doubtless the first in the city, built in the 13th century during the Nazarite caliphate. These baths are amongst the best preserved in Andalusia.
There are three main rooms: the first contains the recently restored remains of the chimney used to evacuate steam and hot air as well as the smoke from the boiler used to heat water.
The largest room, the "hipostila", is the most beautiful in the building.
RONDA TYPICAL HANDICRAFT
Previously to the Spanish Civil War, there were several potter families in Ronda, but now, only one family go on with the tradition. Although they keep manufacturing the same type and style of pots and plates, etc, they have introduced the modern technology giving them an up today looking.
Another famous handicraft in this town is its renowned wrought iron works.
All the handicraft in connection with the horse, is also very popular in Ronda, where you can find all type of harness, since the most luxury pure leather saddles, to the typical woolen blankets used by the famous "bandoleros"(brigands) of the Rondas highlands.
Furniture as well as carved woods are very appreciated in the area.
Ronda cuisine is much influenced by its mountain location, and is based on simple, well-flavoured dishes such as tomato soup, garlic soup, bean or lent thick soup, although both legumes are also eaten scrambled with eggs as are asparagus and mushrooms.
Country dishes using crumbs from home made bread, together with peppers, tomatoes, onions, and fried eggs, topped with local sausage are very popular, they are the famous "Migas". Typical stews include those based on snails, rabbit ("conejo a la rondeña"), partridge ("perdices al estilo de la serrania"), as well as oxl tail.
Cold vegetable soups, the famous gazpacho, almond soup and the "porra antequerana" are widely favoured.
Typical desserts are almond mousse "sopa de almendras", and egg yolk paste "yemas del Tajo", small biscuits and honey cakes.
Its virgin olive oil, woodland honey, chestnuts in syrup and local wines, make Ronda a Mecca for lovers of fine cuisine.
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See a map over Ronda
