Ronda Today

Iglesia de Santa Cecilia in Ronda

March 23, 2023 by Clive Muir

Dating from 1663, the Iglesia de los Trinitarios Descalzos as it was first known, was the third home of the “Order of Descalzed Nuns” of Ronda, who nowadays are located in the convent attached to the Iglesia de Nuestra Señora de la Merced.

The plaza in front of the church, Plaza Los Descalzos, still retains the name of the order.

An older Christian chapel, the “Ermita del Cristo de las Penas o Peñas” occupied this site from mid 16th century, being demolished to make way for the church you see today. In 1836 the Descalzed Order vacated the church and convent, and a school was established on the site using the church as their chapel.

Espiritu Santo

March 23, 2023 by Clive Muir

Despite its formidable appearance, the Holy Spirit Church is actually one of Ronda’s most noteworthy religious sites. What makes it particularly unique is that it’s integrated into the original fortified walls of the old city, and was even constructed on the foundations of a former octagonal tower once used by the Moors to defend the gate and walls in this part of Ronda. As a result, the church’s structure has a rich history and tells a fascinating story of the city’s past.

Estofado andaluz (Andalucian Hotpot)

March 16, 2023 by Clive Muir

One of our best-kept secrets here in southern Spain is the intense cold of our winters. (Especially in the mountains.) For centuries before the advent of central heating, field labourers had to stock up on nourishing, warming food in order to get through a day’s work in the bitter cold. This leads us onto another of our best-kept secrets. The wonderful range of stews, roasts and hotpots which have evolved here in the Serranía de Ronda. Estofado andaluz (Andalucian Hotpot) is one of them!

The Spanish Fir – Abies pinsapo

March 15, 2023 by Clive Muir

Dotted around the mountains of Grazalema and the Sierra de las Nieves, and also in the city of Ronda itself, the observant visitor will occasionally run across a type of evergreen fir that looks different from others. The Spanish Fir – Abies pinsapo.

This is Abies pinsapo, the national tree of Andalucía, and one of a very few species that survived through the last major ice age into the modern era. That alone gives the tree special significance, and sadly Abies pinsapo is endangered. Reforestation efforts seem to be working, but the tree is often found in zones that have a high risk of fire.

Moros y Cristianos (Beans and Rice)

March 15, 2023 by Clive Muir

Black beans and rice traditional recipe for moros y cristianos

Strangley enough, Moros y Cristianos is a popula traditional dish from Caribbean and Latin American cuisine, particularly popular in Cuba, the Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico. It is a dish made of black beans and rice, which are cooked together and seasoned with various spices and herbs, such as cumin, oregano, garlic, and bay leaves.

It doesn’t appear on the menu in Ronda very often but when it does it is often served as a side dish or as a main course with meat, seafood, or vegetables. Without the meat, of course, it is a perfect vegeterian option