FOR SALE: Plots 51, 108, 174 and 175 La Paloma de Manilva, Costa del Sol, Spain. Empty plots range from from €290k - €330k. For further information contact us.
When you see how Ronda is positioned, high up on a limestone ridge and divided by a river gorge known as El Tajo, you will appreciate why it was one of the last Moorish strongholds against the Christians.
The gorge is about 100 metres deep and the bridge joins the old and new town. Just 40 minutes from San Pedro.
From the coast there are several routes to Ronda, the A376 from San Pedro, a wide if windy main road. The A369 (via the A377 from Manilva and via Gaucin - very windy and steep!) or start at San Roque on the coast. There is a fantastic train ride to Ronda from the coast passing through the mountains and breathtaking scenery. The Mercadillo quarter is the newer part of the town and houses the bus and train station. The bullring, one of the oldest in Spain dating back to 1785, is also to be found there.
La Ciudad is the older quarter, reached by crossing the Tajo Bridge. Moorish remains are to be found here, and they include the Moorish baths, the Alcazar and the gates in the old city walls, the oldest of which is the Puerta del Almocabar. The Plaza Duqueza de Parcent is the most charming square in Ronda and it is home to Santa Maria la Mayor where you can see a Moorish minaret and other remains of the 13th Century mosque, which once stood there.
A short walk will take you to the palacio de Mondragon, thought to be a residence of Moorish kings. Wonderful views over the Tajo as well as patios and fountains, an outstanding carved wood ceiling and mosaics make this an important monument to visit.
Banditry Museum, Calle Arminan 65, Ronda. Tel: 95 287 7785. Open daily lOam -8pm, 1.80 euros adults, children under 14 free. Andalucia has had a long history of banditry, which is not surprising due to the very poor social conditions that the majority of the population had to put up with. Up until about 50 years ago the rugged countryside, rocky mountains and heavy terrain of Southern Spain was the ideal territory to prey on travellers en route to Madrid from the South and a means of escape for the bandit.
Certain "Robin Hood" type characters used to steal from the wealthy and distribute the spoils amongst the needy. These bandits became heroes amongst the poor but for the rich and privileged, they were a menace and in 1844, the need to provide protection for the wealthy was finally recognised and the Civil Guard was formed to patrol the countryside and hound out the bandits. Probably the most well known bandit was "EI Tempranillo" (the early bird) and you can learn more about him, and others, at the museum. Here you will be greeted with a mixture of myth, legend and reality and although some of the bandits were violent and bloodthirsty, the museum stresses their romantic and charitable spirit by the way they helped the needy by stealing from some to help others. The museum is attractively laid out into several rooms and you will see a typical 19th century tavern which is decorated with photographs and stills from a television series on banditry and press cuttings and stories about the famous bandit "EI Tempranillo".
Also on show is a reproduction of the cave in which the bandit "Pasos Largos" took refuge before being gunned down by the Civil Guard in 1934. Visitors will also be able to see examples of clothing, weaponry, saddles, harnesses, videos and books on the subject.
Other places that are well worth a visit:
FOR SALE: Plots 51, 108, 174 and 175 La Paloma de Manilva, Costa del Sol, Spain. Empty plots range from from €290k - €330k. For further information contact us.