On one side of Plaza Duquesa de Parcent is the church of Santa Maria La Mayor, which used to be the town's Friday Mosque (minaret pictured). It was sad to see another instance of this recurring theme of mosques converted to churches.
The very expensive ice cream were nice but not as nice as the surrounding, particularly the line of orange trees. The orange on blue sky was sumptuously colorful...
We carried on touring the little gem and its beautifully cobbled narrow streets, aiming for Ronda's most picturesque square in Plaza Duquesa de Parcent. Despite the tourists near Puente Nuevo and the squares, the rest of Ronda was relatively free and uncrowded.
Pushing and carrying the two young ones was not easy but enjoyable because of their enjoyment. Zainab of course prefers walking to being carried!
On one side of the plaza is the church of Santa Maria La Mayor, which used to be the town's Friday Mosque (minaret pictured). It was sad to see another instance of this recurring theme of mosques converted to churches.
The very expensive ice cream were nice but not as nice as the surrounding...
Just beyond the oldest Moorish bridge and beyond the old city wall is the Arabian Bathhouse. Ever since experiencing the Hammam Noor-Uddin in Damascus, I have been enthralled by these baths. I haven't been to one as good as that one in Syria. I pray that it is still there the next time we visit.
This one has long been out of use but one could still appreciate its former glory and ingenuity with its star shaped glass windows set in barrel-vaulted ceiling and octagonal brick columns supporting horseshoe arches. There was also once an aqueduct that used to bring fresh water from the nearby river. It was all fascinating stuff...
On climbing out of the Casa del Rey Moro and after a brief stop at what looked like a mihrab, we carried on walking along the southern bank of the Guadalvin, passing the town's two oldest bridges.
This is Hamida enjoying a view of Puente Viejo (1616) from the 14th century Moorish Puente de San Miguel beyond which the town ends as it always did...
Leading down from the Casa del Rey Moro is a 365 step underground stairway all the way to the bottom of the gorge and the Guadalvin. Abdullah lead the way with Yousuf guided by his mum, but managing the descent and accent 730 by himself, and Zainab on her dad's back. It was a mini-adventure for the kids.
As with the terrace there were very few other people, the best way to enjoy such things. At the bottom though there was a backpacking couple who obliged in taking a picture of us. The view from the bottom of the gorge was serene...
Moving to the southern side of Ronda, our first stop was an 18th century mansion built on Moorish foundations. It had a lovely terrace with pretty little pools and flower beds and with excellent views of the gorge and the countryside to the east. Soothing for the soul.
Not so soothing, but one that amused Abdullah, is the legend that the original Moorish palace was the residence of a king who used to drink wine from the skulls of those he'd beheaded. Such is legend...
Every time I go to McDonald's while travelling I feel embarrassed but sometimes it's convenient, especially with young kids who need to be fed in a hurry. They had free wi-fi too! This was on the northern side of Puente Nuevo...
