Ronda is a city in the Spanish province of Málaga. It is located about 100 kilometres (62 mi) from the city of Marbella, within the autonomous community of Andalusia. Its population is 35,515.
We drove up, up, up from the coast to the mountains to visit Ronda. A curvy, mountain road, where Porsche drivers act insanely by passing multiple vehicles with a solid double line. We, on the other hand, took our time and got to the city centre safely.
Around the city are remains of prehistoric settlements dating to the Neolithic Age, including the rock paintings of Cueva de la Pileta. Ronda was however first settled by the early Celts, who, in the 6th century BC, called it Arunda. Later Phoenician settlers established themselves nearby to found Acinipo, known locally as Ronda la Vieja, Arunda or Old Ronda. The current Ronda is however of Roman origins, having been founded as a fortified post in the Second Punic War, by Scipio Africanus. Ronda received the title of city at the time of Julius Caesar.In the 5th century AD Ronda was conquered by the Suebi, led by Rechila, being reconquered in the following century by the Eastern Roman Empire, under whose rule Acinipo was abandoned. Later the Visigoth king Leovigild captured the city. Ronda was part of the Visigoth reign until 713, when it fell to the Arabs, who named it Izn-Rand Onda ("city of the castle") and made it the capital of the Takurunna province.
After the disintegration of the caliphate of Córdoba, Ronda became the capital of a small kingdom, the taifa of Ronda. During this period Ronda received most of its islamic architectural heritage. In 1065 Ronda was conquered by the taifa of Seville led by Abbad II al-Mu'tadid. Both the Sufi scholar Salih ben Sharif al-Rundi (1204-1285) and the poet Ibn Abbad al-Rundi (1333-1390) were born in Ronda.
The islamic domination of Ronda ended in 1485, when it was conquered by Ferdinand II of Aragon after a long siege. Subsequently, mostly of the city's old edifices were renewed or adapted to Christian roles, while numerous others were built in newly-created quarters such as the Mercadillo and the San Francisco ones. The Real Maestranza de Caballería de Ronda was founded in the town in 1572, with military finalities.
We started off by walking through town, across the bridge, taking in the spectacular views of the gorge. We then walked in the old part of the town stoping to see the home of Saint Don Bosco. His home is a modernist palace built at the beginning of the 20th century. It is located at the Tajo's edge, at the heart of the historical city quarter of Ronda. It belonged to the Granada family, which gave it as last will to the Salesian Priest Order as nursing home of old and ill priests.
We then had lunch at Hotel Montacilno, with spectacular views of the gorge. Next we toured the Church of our Lady of the Incarnation with its tall bell tower. This square is of Arab origin and was the main square. It housed the Mosque, market, jail and castle. The town hall was built in 1734 on the top of the old shops. It was restored in 1818 after the damage caused by the French.
We then toured the Ronda de Toro -- the oldest bullfighting ring in the world and we were fortunate to see a "modern bullfight" in process.
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