Ronda’s Mondragón Palace (Palacio de Mondragón) is one of the city’s most interesting historic buildings. The palace has its origins in the Islamic period, but much of what visitors see today reflects the changes made after the Christian conquest of Ronda in 1485.
Today, the palace houses the Municipal Museum of Ronda, with exhibits covering the city’s history from prehistoric times through the Roman and Islamic periods and into later centuries. The building itself is also worth exploring, with historic courtyards, gardens, decorative tilework and views across the surrounding countryside.
I’ve been living in this lovely area of Western Andalucia for the last 20 years or so and dedicate most of my time to the running of English language tourist information websites for the towns of Cádiz, Ronda, Grazalema, the famous or infamous Caminito del Rey, and also Wildside Holidays, which promotes sustainable and eco-friendly businesses running wildlife and walking holidays in Spain. My articles contain affiliate links that will help you reserve a hotel, bus, train or activity in the area. You don’t pay more, but by using them you do support this website. Thankyou!
A few kilometres from Ronda, just outside the white village of Benaojan lies one of the most spectacular cave systems in Spain, Pileta Paleolithic Cave Paintings at Benaojan and in the mouth of one, several galleries of cave paintings that are as old as 30,000 years, and were created by paleolithic people of Ronda before the last great ice age. Best of all, the caves are open to the public with a local tour guide to explain the significance of the artwork.
I’ve been living in this lovely area of Western Andalucia for the last 20 years or so and dedicate most of my time to the running of English language tourist information websites for the towns of Cádiz, Ronda, Grazalema, the famous or infamous Caminito del Rey, and also Wildside Holidays, which promotes sustainable and eco-friendly businesses running wildlife and walking holidays in Spain. My articles contain affiliate links that will help you reserve a hotel, bus, train or activity in the area. You don’t pay more, but by using them you do support this website. Thankyou!
The Plaza de Toros in Ronda is one of the city’s most important historic landmarks and one of the most significant bullrings in Spain. Built in the 18th century, it is closely associated with the Romero family and the development of the Ronda style of bullfighting.
Today, visitors can explore the historic bullring and its museum to learn about Ronda’s role in Spanish culture and the history of bullfighting. You don’t need to be interested in bullfighting itself to appreciate the building, its architecture and its place in Ronda’s history.
Visiting the Plaza de Toros
A visit to the bullring includes access to the arena and museum, where you can learn more about Ronda’s bullfighting history and the Romero dynasty.
Planning your visit to Ronda? The Plaza de Toros is one of the city’s key historic attractions. See our Top 10 places to visit in Ronda for more ideas on what to see and do during your stay.
Agatha Christie: The Seven Dials was filmed in Ronda
Ronda’s Plaza de Toros features in the Netflix miniseries Agatha Christie: The Seven Dials, an adaptation of Agatha Christie’s novel The Secret of Chimneys. Several scenes were filmed in Ronda in September 2024, with the Plaza de Toros among the city’s historic locations used by the production.
The bullring is particularly relevant to the story because the plot has a connection with bullfighting, and it appears in the opening scenes of the series. Other recognisable Ronda locations include the Puente Nuevo, Alameda del Tajo, Arab Baths, Casa del Rey Moro and the area around the Arco de Felipe V.
Would you like to visit a fighting bull farm in Ronda?
Reservatoro Ronda is a working breeding farm for fighting bulls and purebred Andalusian horses, located around 5 km from Ronda. Created by retired bullfighter Rafael Tejada, the farm is open to visitors who can learn about the breeding of fighting bulls and the selection process, while seeing the animals and horses at close quarters.
A visit offers a very different perspective on the traditional world surrounding Ronda’s bullfighting culture and takes you into the countryside just outside the city.
Reservatauro Ronda is an active breeding farm for fighting bulls and purebred Andalusian horses, situated just 5 kilometers from Ronda.
I’ve been living in this lovely area of Western Andalucia for the last 20 years or so and dedicate most of my time to the running of English language tourist information websites for the towns of Cádiz, Ronda, Grazalema, the famous or infamous Caminito del Rey, and also Wildside Holidays, which promotes sustainable and eco-friendly businesses running wildlife and walking holidays in Spain. My articles contain affiliate links that will help you reserve a hotel, bus, train or activity in the area. You don’t pay more, but by using them you do support this website. Thankyou!
Part of the reason Ronda is so important in the history of Andalucia directly relates to how secure the city was from attack. The city walls in combination with the gorge and rio Guadalevin made Ronda’s Arab Walls and City Gates impervious from attack until the age of the cannon.
Whilst wooden palisades existed to protect neolithic communities and their successors before the constructions of the Roman castle, the reality is that most of the stone walls around Ronda directly owe their construction to the Islamic era, a period that spanned close to 800 years from 712 until 1485.
I’ve been living in this lovely area of Western Andalucia for the last 20 years or so and dedicate most of my time to the running of English language tourist information websites for the towns of Cádiz, Ronda, Grazalema, the famous or infamous Caminito del Rey, and also Wildside Holidays, which promotes sustainable and eco-friendly businesses running wildlife and walking holidays in Spain. My articles contain affiliate links that will help you reserve a hotel, bus, train or activity in the area. You don’t pay more, but by using them you do support this website. Thankyou!
The House of the Giant, otherwise known as the Casa del Gigante in Ronda’s old city is one of the most complete examples of Nasrid architecture outside of Granada and definitely a destination that should be on your list of places to see in Ronda.
This house is located in a quiet plaza behind the Santa Maria La Mayor church, and directly across from the Museo Peinado. The Casa del Gigante is just 2 minutes walk from the Puente Nuevo and Plaza d’España, and not too far from the Mondragon Palace. A statue of Vincent Espinel is located directly in front of the entrance to the House of the Giant.
The palace was already more than 100 years old at the time of the fall of Ronda to Ferdinand’s army in 1485 and apart from some redecorating in the 17th century is still largely complete as a Moorish building.
I’ve been living in this lovely area of Western Andalucia for the last 20 years or so and dedicate most of my time to the running of English language tourist information websites for the towns of Cádiz, Ronda, Grazalema, the famous or infamous Caminito del Rey, and also Wildside Holidays, which promotes sustainable and eco-friendly businesses running wildlife and walking holidays in Spain. My articles contain affiliate links that will help you reserve a hotel, bus, train or activity in the area. You don’t pay more, but by using them you do support this website. Thankyou!
Probably every visitor to Ronda passes under the Felipe V Arch (Arco de Felipe V) on their way from “La Ciudad” and the Puente Nuevo (new bridge) into the Padre Jesus neighbourhood normally crossing the Puente Viejo (old bridge).
Back in the 18th century until the completion of the Puente Nuevo, the arch was the main entrance into La Ciudad, and was hurriedly built after the collapse of the old Arab gate in 1742.
I’ve been living in this lovely area of Western Andalucia for the last 20 years or so and dedicate most of my time to the running of English language tourist information websites for the towns of Cádiz, Ronda, Grazalema, the famous or infamous Caminito del Rey, and also Wildside Holidays, which promotes sustainable and eco-friendly businesses running wildlife and walking holidays in Spain. My articles contain affiliate links that will help you reserve a hotel, bus, train or activity in the area. You don’t pay more, but by using them you do support this website. Thankyou!
