History

Why is Ronda Called the City of Dreams?

by
The German poet Rilke. Why is Ronda Called the City of Dreams?

Ronda, a picturesque town perched atop the El Tajo gorge in Andalusia, Spain, has long been known as the “City of Dreams.” This enchanting epithet encapsulates the town’s ethereal beauty, rich history, and cultural significance.

But why has Ronda been bestowed with such a dreamy title? The answer can be found in one of the most influential voices to associate Ronda with dreams, the poet Rainer Maria Rilke. Read on!

Read more

Plaza del Socorro and Blas Infante

by
Plaza Socorro Ronda - Blas Infante - Hercules and Lions

Visitors to Ronda are often confused as to why our central plaza Socorro features a statue of a semi-naked man with two lions by his side and a couple of pillars behind him. What is their significance? Lets find out about the Plaza del Socorro and Blas Infante.

The answer lies in Andalusian nationalism and one of the most important events in recent Andalusian political history. The Assembly of Ronda in 1918. This was when the father of Andalusian nationalism, Blas Infante, unfurled the flag and symbols of Andalusia whilst standing on the first floor balcony of the ‘Circulo de Artistas‘. The building directly behind the fountain with red CA lettering above the windows.

Read more

The VoiceMap GPS Audio Guide for Ronda

by
The VoiceMap GPS Audio Guide for Ronda

So, I was asked to create the VoiceMap GPS Audio Guide for Ronda.

Ronda Audio Guide QR code
Scan the QR code to go directly to the Audio guide at VoiceMap

Listening to me along the way (and also some captivating guitar music from the amazing Paco Seco), you’ll pass breathtaking lookout points including the Mirador de Ronda and the Mirador de Aldehuela.

As we leave the new town behind us and enter the old, past the Mondragón Palace and museum we’ll visit Ronda’s former defensive border at the Puerta de Almocábar, and quake in the boots of history’s soldiers as you imagine approaching armies.

From there we’ll follow the old walls to the Arab Baths and the Puente Viejo bridge, before making our way back over Puente Nuevo. The tour ends in front of the Plaza de Toros, the Bullring of the Royal Cavalry of Ronda.

Read more

History of Grazalema Village in the Sierra de Cádiz

by
Grazalema Village

Almost every visitor to Ronda will hear about the beauty of the nearby village called Grazalema. The village is located within the western reaches of the Sierra de Cadiz that also includes the villages of El Bosque, Zahara de la Sierra, Algodonales, and Olvera, and is the north-eastern tip of Cadiz province.

Grazalema is one of the famous white villages of Andalucia, considered by many to be amongst the most beautiful, and given that it is broadly in the centre of its namesake, the Grazalema Natural Park which is equally as famous, it is hardly any wonder the village has such a reputation.

Read more

History of Ronda’s Arab Baths

by
Arab baths in Ronda

Whilst in ruins now, the Arab Baths are still amongst some of the best preserved in Spain and offer a tantalising peek into Moorish life during the 13th to 16th centuries. Be sure to watch the animated short presentation (5 minutes) about the history of Ronda’s Arab Baths when you get here. The video presentation describes the water tower as a Noria (the modern Spanish word derived from Arabic), however the water pump in Ronda was a chain pump and is more correctly known today as a Saqiya.

Read more