Ronda
One of the most spectacularly located cities in Spain, Ronda sits on a massive rocky outcrop, straddling a precipitous limestone cleft. Its impregnable position made this town one of the last Moorish bastions. Ronda finally fell to the Christians in 1485.
On the south side perches a classic pueblo blanco of cobbled alleys, window grilles and dazzling whitewash. The most historical sights are in this part of town.
Suggested Walk [Paseo]:
Start at Puente Nuevo "New Bridge"
Convento de Santo Domingo
- Near the Puente Nuevo, at the intersection of Calle Tenorio and Calle Armiñán with the Plaza de Espa&ntlde in the background, is Convent of Santo Domingo.
- It is a hybrid of Gothic, Mudejar and Renaissance construction; elements of the original building remain. The convent was founded by the Catholic Monarchs immediately after the conquest of Ronda.
- This was the local headquarters of The Inquisition. [Note the coat of arms of the Holy Office and the Dominican Order in the stone facade as you enter.
- The site is the burial place for the important familes of Ronda. The mausoleum of Don Jos&eacutre of moctezuma y Rojas is located in what used to be known as the Rosary Room.
- After it was abandoned by the Dominicans, it became army barracks, a market, a furniture factory, and now has been restored for civic uses.
[turn left and walk along Santa Domingo to] Casa del Rey Moro
- The most noteworthy is the famous underground mine built by Abomelik at the beginning of the 14th century. Ronda was then a natural bastion/fortress between the Arab kingdom of Granada and the Christian kingdom of Seville.
Puente Viejo, Bañ Árabes
Palacio del Marqué de Salvatierra
[turn left and walk along Marqué de Salvatierra past] Minarete San Sebastián
Ayuntamiento
Santa Marí la Mayor
Palacio Mondragó
Mirador El Campillo [viewpoint at Plaza del Campillo]
Puente Nuevo
Plaza de Toros
Plaza de Toros is one of the oldest and most important bullring in Spain. It is the spiritual home of bullfighting. In September, aficionados travel from all over Spain for the singular atmosphere of the corrida. Ronda's Plaza de Toros is located in El Mercadillo, the newer town.
More:
www.andalucia.com/magazine/english/ed3/ronda.htm
Cádiz
Normally a quiet and serene city on the Andalusian coast, Cadiz comes alive for Carnival. Tauted "Spain's ultimate party", the whole city puts on fancy dress one of Europe's largest and most colourful carnivals. This well-known Andalusian fiesta and and the pride of the city is an explosion of festivities, fancy dress, singing and drinking. Groups of singers practise for many months to perform ditties satrizing current fashions, celebrities and politicians.
During normal times, the great joy of visiting Cadiz is to wander along the waterfront with its well-tended gardens and open squares before exploring the old town. The old town is full of narrow alleys busy with market and street life.
Cathedral Nueva [New Cathedral]
This is one of Spain's largest, with its baroque vaults, neo-classical facade and tower, dome of golden yellow tiles, and cupola which was built between 1812 and 1838 by Juan Daura, the last in a long line of architects of this cathedral. The cathedral's treasures are stored in the Casa de la Contaduria, behind the cathedral. in the crypt is the tomb of composer Manuel de Falla [1876-1946], native of Cadiz.
Museo de Cáadiz at Plaza de Mina [Wednesday - Sunday]
Archaeological exhibits charting the history of Cadiz can be found on the groud floor. The upper floor is one of the largest art galleries in Andalucia featuring work by Rubens, Murillo and Zurbarán including Zurbarán's Saint Bruno in Ecstasy . The third floor is devoted to a collection of puppets made for village fiestas.
Oratorio de San Felipe Neri
This 18th-century has been a shrine to liberalism since 1812 when Napoleon tightened his grip on Spain during the war of independence.
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