Showing 1-6 of 6 results
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Casa del Rey Moro
For a more dramatic view of the river and gorge go to the Casa del Rey Moro. Here, terraced gardens give access to La Mina, an Islamic stairway of over 300 steps that are cut into the rock all the way down to the river at the bottom of the gorge. These steps enabled Ronda to maintain water supplies when it was under attack. It was also the point where Christian troops forced entry in 1485. The steps are not well lit and are steep and wet in places. Care should be taken, even by the fit and able.
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Plaza de España
Directly across the Puente Nuevo is the main square, Plaza de España , made famous by Hemingway in his novel For Whom the Bell Tolls . Chapter 10 tells how early in the Civil War the 'fascists' of a small town were rounded up in the ayuntamiento (town hall), clubbed and made to walk the gauntlet between two lines of townspeople before being thrown off the cliff. The episode is based on events that took place here in Plaza de España. What was the ayuntamiento is now Ronda's parador.
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Plaza de Toros
Ronda's elegant Plaza de Toros is a mecca for bullfighting aficionados. In existence for more than 200 years, it is one of the oldest and most revered bullrings in Spain. It has also been the site of some of the most important events in bullfighting history. Built by Martín Aldehuela, the bullring is universally admired for its soft sandstone hues and galleried arches.
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Puente Nuevo
Straddling the dramatic gorge and the Río Guadalevín (Deep River) is Ronda's most recognisable sight, the towering Puente Nuevo, best viewed from the Camino de los Molinos, which runs along the bottom of the gorge. The bridge separates the old and new towns.
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Puente Viejo
Taking the narrow Calle Marqués de Salvatierra will bring you to the small Puente Viejo, with views down onto the river as it rushes into the gorge.
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Puerta de Carlos V
The Old Town is surrounded by massive fortress walls pierced by two ancient gates: the Islamic Puerta de Almocábar, which in the 13th century was the main gateway to the castle; and the 16th-century Puerta de Carlos V . Inside, the Islamic layout remains intact, and its maze of narrow streets now takes its character from the Renaissance mansions of powerful families whose predecessors accompanied Fernando el Católico in the taking of the city in 1485.
Showing 1-6 of 6 results
