Carved into the cliffs of the ‘El Tajo’ gorge is a surprising mine and fortress that dates back to the Moorish era. This was when constant wars in Al-Andalus required the city governors to protect the water supplies for the defenders of the city.
Ronda’s Water Mine under the Casa del Rey Moro was built during the reign of Ronda’s King Abomelic at the beginning of the 14th century. Ronda, at this time, was an independent Islamic kingdom on the frontline between the Christian north, and the newly developing Islamic Nazari Kingdom in Granada.
Voicemap GPS Audio Guide for Ronda
Ronda’s Water Mine under the Casa del Rey Moro is included in the VoiceMap GPS Audio Guide for Ronda route around the city.
To reach the water mine it is necessary to first enter the gardens of the House of the Moorish King.
Buried treasure!
In popular culture, the mine is rumoured to be the secret hiding place of Abomelic’s gold, and many people in Ronda still believe that underground chambers and treasure may still be discovered. This is unlikely however, and many of the rumours could have been started by slaves freed after the city fell to the Catholic monarchs Ferdinand and Isabella in 1485.
Medieval Islamic engineering
The fortress is a marvel of medieval Islamic engineering, and unique in all of Spain. The chambers were built using a complex latticework of stacked vaults that made it possible to defend the lowest chamber and the entrance from chambers higher up the fortress.
Within the mine there are 231 steps carved into the rock that lead to the river below, a total distance of 60 metres, and the bottom 30 metres contain an impregnable fortress from which the city defence could protect essential water supplies.
At one time it wasn’t necessary to leave the fortress to collect water, a water wheel with buckets was used to bring water from a well in the room of the spring (‘Sala del Manantial’), and then slaves would form a human chain to pass water in skin bags called “zagues” from the bottom to the city above.
Secret escape route out of the city
The fortress at the bottom of the water mine was also thought to be a secret escape from the city because the location of the fortress cannot be seen from the Arab Bridge which was the main entrance to the city. However, to make sure the city was defended, the weapons room included a small window above the door, that could be used to pour boiling water onto attackers.
Another interesting aspect of the fortress is that the stone walls prevent sound traveling, and in the room of secrets it is said that if a person stands in the centre of the room, he cannot hear what is said in the corner.
Directly above the fortress, about 25 metres above the river, there is a terrace known as the Terrace of the Conquest, from which Moorish and then Christian conquerers could watch the river for signs of attack, and this is now known to have been the first line of defence of the water mine. It is below the hermit’s grotto, and is so well hidden it cannot be seen from any direction.
Opening hours and contact details for Ronda’s Water Mine under the Casa del Rey Moro
- Winter (October-April):
- From 10am to 8pm
- Summer (May-September):
- From 10am to 9:30pm
- Entry Price 5 Euros per person
- Telephone: +34 617 61 08 08
- Website: https://casadelreymoro.org/en/home/
- Address: La Casa del Rey Moro, Calle Cuesta de Santo Domingo, 9 29400 Ronda Málaga Spain
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