Ronda is considered by many to be the most beautiful town in Spain. This is due to multiple factors. One of them is the mixture of cultures and architectures within the town that passed from Christian to Muslim hands and back to Christian hands. In addition, the city is in a complicated orography, so there are multiple bridges that connect the different neighborhoods, the most famous being the New Bridge that connects the entire historic center with the part of the last three centuries. In addition, most of the religious buildings have been perfectly preserved, although many buildings, such as the baths, are not preserved in good condition in the Arab quarter.
The fact of having been one of the best defensive cities due to the heights at which it is located and having the natural wall of the mountain gives it an air of a movie and if we add the great history that it has and that after the reconquest continued to be endowed with Good buildings such as the bullring and some nearby palaces make it the second destination in the province after the capital.

My hostel was 20 meters from the new bridge and the hostel, which was the first thing I would see. To enter the Plaza de Toros, called the one of the Real Maestranza de Caballería de Ronda, you have to pay so you would see it from the outside. To take the photo with the new bridge, it can be done either from the new area, either from the interpretation area of ​​the bridge that is difficult to enter, or from the viewpoint from the old area. That is the one that came out best for me. This photo can also be taken from the Mondragon palace.

To say that in Ronda you have to pay in almost all places and they are not a big deal. Although there is a joint bracelet or ticket that for 15 euros you can see many places, not counting the church of Santa María that is part of it. This is because the majority of foreign tourists who travel to Malaga visit Ronda because of its proximity and because of the scenery and surroundings of this town, which is spectacular. However, cities like Écija and Osuna are home to religious buildings and palaces that are a thousand times different from those of Ronda. Very close to the bridge is the hostel that can be seen in the following image.



Once I had visited the New Part, in addition to the bridge and the Parador, I went to see Plaza del Socorro and the church, one of the most visited squares in Ronda. Also the La Merced convent pulling towards the outskirts or the church of Santa Cecilia del Padre Jesús, the temple of the hanged or the Salvatierra palace very close to the Ronda old woman. Very close to this palace would already be the Old Bridge that gives access to a slope next to the walls to see the historic quarter. From this bridge you can see the medieval bridge of the Islamic Ronda, the Arab baths and various houses and ruins from that period. This part is outside the wall. Crossing the bridge you can see the door of Carlos V and going up the slope the house of the Moorish King. A small palace with a baroque façade full of details.
In the center we come to the main square, with the church of Santa María la Mayor, the town hall palace and the Clarisas convent, with a Baroque-style church. This square is the most important in Ronda. Not far to the west and within the limits of the city is the Church of the Holy Spirit that connects with the wall and with the city gate. One can climb the wall and walk a few meters. Returning to the main square, you can see the remains of the citadel and we can already see other important buildings such as the Mondragon palace, the Casa de Don Bosco, the Joaquin Peinado museum in a small square surrounded by of palaces today converted into hotels. It is also worth visiting the church of the Sacred Heart of Jesus and see the mural next to the New Bridge of Ronda Romantic Travelers made of tiles with which I began this article.




Once I had visited Ronda, which I could also see at night walking around the new part, I would retrace my steps until I reached Setenil de las Bodegas. My intention was to have gone before Ronda and then go towards Antequera, but due to the route I took at the last moment I had to leave it. Also, if you go to Setenil you have to go and try its delicious grilled meat in one of its restaurants.

My intention was to have gone before Ronda and then go towards Antequera, but due to the route I took at the last moment I had to leave it. Also, if you go to Setenil you have to go and try its delicious grilled meat in one of its restaurants.



Setenil de las Bodegas is a town nestled in the rock. There is a dry stream and on both sides there are caves in the rock. They were excavated centuries ago to create taverns that are now restaurants. In this way they took advantage of the natural cold of the shade and the interior to preserve food and drinks. As it is very hot it was easy to take shelter and also from the cold at night.



The caves have various names, the most important are the caves of sobra and sol. At the top of the town is the church of La Encarnación built on the old mosque and its wall, which is of Arab origin. After seeing the town a bit, I would eat the house specialty, a good roast knuckle. To do this, you would have to queue at one of its restaurants for about 15 minutes. The star dishes are entrecotes and grilled lamb chops.


After visiting this very touristy town that despite being February was full, I headed towards Archidona.


Archidona is a lesser-known town in the province of Malaga, but it is home to the only preserved mosque in the province. This 9th century mosque stands at the top of the town in the old citadel.


A town in the province of Málaga less known but which houses the only preserved mosque in the province. This 9th century mosque stands at the top of the town in the old citadel. It has Roman origin, and was remodeled during the Muslim domination. On part of its ruins, the Sanctuary of the Virgin of Grace was built, in the place where the mosque was located. The interior still conserves the configuration of the space as well as several columns of Roman and Visigothic origin. The interior also houses a Gothic image from the 15th century.

Once visited, it would go down to the town, where it would enter the Plaza Mayor. This square is called Plaza Ochavada due to the distribution of its blocks into 8 parts. Located in the historic center of Archidona, it is one of the most interesting monumental complexes in the province, both for its style and its shape. Jewel of Andalusian urbanism of the 18th century. The mix between French urbanism and the Mudejar tradition result in one of the most beautiful public squares in Spain. In 2007 it received popular recognition as the First Wonder of the province of Malaga. The square soon became the administrative center of the town, where the Town Hall was installed and bullfights were held within its octagonal enclosure. These bullfights were held until 1956, returning to recover their celebration in 2010. It is one of the best Andalusian squares in the Baroque style and that day they had finished dismantling the stage where the carnivals had been held.

Another of the important squares is the Plaza de la Victoria where the church of the Victory is located. It is a Mannerist-style church from the late 16th and early 17th centuries. Very close is the convent of the Mínimas nuns and the church of Santa Ana which is the main church of the town and the oldest that is located at the highest point of the town below the mountain. The church of Santa Ana was possibly erected on top of the old mosque in a suburb of the Arab Arsiduna. Together with the nearby primitive Town Hall, they would form the first vital nucleus of the emerging Archidona of the Modern Age. The building began in the Flamboyant Gothic style of the early 16th century, showing a polygonal chancel covered with a sexpartite vault. It has the shield on the altar of the Girones, the Dukes of Osuna, who had influence throughout the western part of Andalusia.





After seeing this town, I would head towards the center of Antequera, specifically the Naranjito hotel.

Day 6, Antequera and arrival in Malaga (CLICK to continue)

March 2, 2022