15 December, 2017

Historic Ronda

 

Point of interest: Bullring. New bridge. Old Bridge. Church Santa María la Mayor. Arab baths. Viewpoints with panoramic views.
Guide: Alfredo Carrasco (Official guide nº 1220)
Duration: 3 hours
Maximum Group: 30 persons

If you are thinking about visiting Ronda we suggest a visit of about 3 hours.

This is a good way to get to know the history, the most emblematic buildings and the impressive views that can be enjoyed from the viewing areas that overlook the Tajo (gorge).

The guide, Alfredo Carrasco, with his engaging and interesting explanations will help you discover a different Ronda.

We will start the tour along the Paseo de los Toreros and the gardens of Blas Infante, from the viewing area you can see how the impressive Tajo is an insurmountable natural wall. Which, thoughout four thousand years of history, the Romans, Visigoths and Arabs settled in Ronda in the old quarter, popularly known as “The City”.

Strolling along the Paseo de Hemingway, we will arrive at the New Bridge, which with its height of one hundred meters is the image that all visitors want to capture in a photograph.

After crossing the Puente Nuevo we will stop at the Mirador de Aldehuela to gaze upon the Old Bridge, the Gardens of Cuenca and the Palace of the Moorish King Moro, from whose gardens the enigmatic staircase of “La Mina” which was built during the presence of the Moors to supply water to the city in the periods in which it was under siege.

Once in “La Ciudad”, Calle Tenorio with its stately homes full of the characteristic forged Rondeña windows and balconys. This street will take us to the House of Don Bosco, whose interior you will visit to enjoy the great views over the Hoya del Tajo and the Sierra de Grazalema. Also noteworthy is the walnut furniture, especially the large fireplace that once warmed the living room of the house.

We will continue to the Mirador del Campillo where in addition to the views you can see some Pinsapos. A little further on is the Palacio de Mondragón, one of the most important buildings in Ronda.

The Plaza de la Duquesa de Parcent is the furthest point of the route and also the most important place in Ronda. Here, in addition to the Town Hall there are four churches (Santa María de la Encarnación, Santa Isabel de los Angeles, La Caridad and María Auxiliadora).

We will stop in the gardens, designed at the beginning of the 20th century by the famous French landscaper Jean-Claude Nicolas Forestier.

Back towards the Plaza de Toros we will walk through the Plaza del Gigante and the Sanctuary of the Virgen de la Paz. If it is open you can enjoy the Baroque decoration of its interior and some of the most important carved figures from Holy Week in Ronda.

We will end the visit enjoying the Bull Ring, open to the public in 1793 and the setting for the traditional Goyesca Corrida. Along the route through the enclosures, the bull pens and its impressive arena. You will learn about the history of the Real Maestranza de Caballería de Ronda and the bullfighting dynasties of Ronda, to which belong two of the most important masters of all time: Pedro Romero and Antonio Ordoñez.

Once the explanations are finished, you will be able to enjoy the two areas of the Real Maestranza de Caballería Museum, which house a collection of antique firearms, items of saddlery of great artistic value, pictures of renowned painters (Francisco de Goya , Claudio Coello, Eduardo Urculo, Miquel Barceló, Eduardo Arroyo, etc.), as well as bullfighting costumes that belonged to Manolete, Antonio Ordoñez, etc.

At the end of the visit you will be ready to enjoy our cuisine accompanied by the excellent wines that are made in Ronda.