Museo de Ronda

The Museo de Ronda occupies the Palacio de Mondragón, one of the finest historic houses in the old town of Ronda, in the hills of the province of Málaga. The palace stands on a rocky terrace on the Plaza de Mondragón, close to the edge of the gorge, and it has a long history. It dates from the Muslim period, when the town was a regional centre, and tradition links it to a Moorish ruler of the fourteenth century. After the Christian conquest in 1485, the building was altered and given Renaissance features, so it shows two cultures in one structure. Over the following centuries, it passed to noble families and it later became a museum.

The architecture is the museum's first attraction. Its rooms are arranged around courtyards with arcades, tiled floors, carved wooden ceilings and fountains, in the manner of Nasrid palaces in Granada. The Salón Noble, the main reception room, has a Mudéjar ceiling of wood with geometric designs, and the combination of Islamic craftsmanship and Christian additions is a feature of southern Spain. Gardens in terraces step down toward the edge of the cliff, with water channels, small pools, and views across the gorge and the countryside beyond. They are a quiet, shaded place in a town that gets very busy in the middle of the day.

The collection is organised in a series of thematic halls that follow the history of the region from the earliest times. The prehistoric rooms deal with hunter-gatherer groups and early farmers, and show tools, pottery and objects from caves of the Serranía de Ronda. The Roman section presents finds from Acinipo, the Roman town on a hilltop a few kilometres from Ronda, whose ruins include a theatre, and also from other sites in the area. The Muslim and medieval rooms cover the period when Ronda was part of al-Andalus, with ceramics, coins and everyday items, and they explain the strategic role of the town on the frontier between Granada and the Christian kingdoms.

The museum is close to the other main sights of the old town. The Puente Nuevo, the great bridge over the gorge, is a short walk away, as are the Casa del Rey Moro, the Plaza de Toros de Ronda, one of the oldest bullrings in Spain, and the Mercado de Abastos. The visit takes about an hour and a half, and it suits history lovers and those interested in architecture and gardens.

The museum is open daily, but opening hours vary by season, so check the current schedule before going. Plaza de Mondragón is a pleasant spot to rest after the visit.