Iglesia de Santa María de la Encarnación la Mayor Ronda

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Ronda - Santa María la Mayor - Church
A Brief History of the Church

Originally built in the 14th century as one of the muslim Mosques, the Church of Santa María la Mayor. Known locally as the Iglesia de Santa María de la Encarnación la Mayor it is located in Ronda’s Town Hall square, the Plaza Duquesa de Parcent, and is the biggest and most attractive of the churches. Its distinctive tower and front facade make the church look more like a city hall than a church.

Practice your Spanish and read the translated version of this article here…

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Ronda’s Mondragón Palace

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Mondrago Palace Ronda

The Mondragón Palace in Ronda is one of the most impressive and historic buildings in the town. It was built in the 14th century by the Moorish rulers of Ronda, and later was sais to have been the residence of King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella after they conquered the town in 1485. It was also the home of several governors and nobles who administered Ronda over the centuries. The palace is now the Municipal Museum, where visitors can learn about Ronda’s history from the stone age to the present day. The palace also features beautiful Moorish courtyards with fountains and arches, lush gardens with exotic plants and flowers, and stunning views of the Sierra de Grazalema mountains from its balconies and windows. The Mondragón Palace is a must-see for anyone who wants to experience the charm and elegance of Ronda’s past.

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The VoiceMap GPS Audio Guide for Ronda

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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.

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History of Grazalema Village in the Sierra de Cádiz

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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.

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