In southern Spain, tourists have an opportunity to visit a beautiful and ancient town – Ronda. This is a true one-of-a-kind settlement that is built on top of two rocks. Such an unusual location makes the town look very airy. It feels like Ronda is floating in the air above the deep El Tajo canyon and the Guadalevin River that flows in it. It is hard to put into words the beauty of this Spanish region, and so tourists from all over the world arrive in this town to feel how their hearts beat faster when they realize that there is a one-hundred-meter-deep canyon below their feet. Ronda is a peaceful and calm town that almost doesn’t have any bustling entertainment. Many guests are amazed by the fact that Ronda is frequently recognized as the birthplace of Spanish corrida.
There was an ancient settlement named Arunda on the site of modern Ronda in the prehistoric time. The early Celts were the first inhabitants in the area. During the Carthage period, local people were obliged to provide food to the army that was fighting with the Greeks and Romans at that moment. The Romans conquered the Iberian Peninsula in 197 AD. After that, Arunda entered a true period of prosperity. The settlement significantly grew in size and even started minting its coin. The fifth century AD was the period of numerous enemy invasions. The Suebi, Vandals, Alans, and Visigoths plundered Arunda and destroyed it. Two centuries later, the Moors captured this territory.
Ronda is incredibly rich in attractions. Casa del Rey Moro or the House of a Moorish King is a popular local landmark. Historians do not know why the house is called this way because there wasn’t any Moorish king who lived in the beautiful mansion. According to locals, the house got this unusual name because of its majestic look and Moorish elements in the design. Casa del Rey Moro was built in 1709. The house was rebuilt several times because it had many owners who were changing the look of the mansion depending on their taste. Nowadays, to enter the beautiful palace, visitors need to go 231 steps up from a true ancient landmark - La Mina de Agua or the Water Mine.
Visitors, who get to the top, see an asymmetrical building with a winding façade, the shape of which copies the turning street. Inside, the house is a true labyrinth consisting of numerous ladders and corridors that connect the rooms of the owners. A beautiful garden with several layers surrounds the Moorish house. One of the owners of the prominent house, the Duchess of Parcent, designed this garden in 1912. Step inside to see slender palm trees, laurels, cedars, and oleanders. There are several charming arbors safely protected by the vine from the hot sun. Beautiful lilies in the ponds make the park look surreal.
Would you like to visit a real corrida arena? In Ronda, tourists can attend the oldest “scene” for bullfighting. Initially, the Plaza de Toros de Ronda was used for the practicing and competitions of royal horses. There were bullfighting events but they were significantly rarer compared to modern days. In the past, knights were engaged in corrida because this was a part of their learning program. Later, toreros replaced noble warriors. The arena is a limestone construction with arcades and one hundred thirty-six columns. There is a special balcony for the king. The diameter of the fighting area is sixty-six meters. The arena is covered with tiles.
It is interesting to visit the arena even on the days when the venue doesn’t host any corrida events because there is a museum of the Royal Calvalry open here. The museum’s exhibition tells about the origins and history of the corrida. The collection features precious artifacts of different centuries. The exhibited items give insight into the development of society and its role in the popularity of tauromaquia. Additionally, having seen the collections, visitors can learn more about the role of the town in the history of the corrida. Ancient gravures, etchings, and editions about the main bullfighting events, famous toreros, and the number of bulls that they killed provide interesting information about this old tradition.
Tourists cannot fly directly to Ronda. They need to choose a flight to a large Spanish city first, for example, to Malaga. The journey time is up to five hours when traveling from Europe. There is a daily bus that connects Malaga and Ronda. This ride lasts approximately two hours. It is also possible to fly to Seville and then get on a bus to Ronda. Travelers can always call a taxi that will take them to the unique Spanish town.
