Benadalid
Benadalid is a small white village at about 690 metres in the Serranía de Ronda, guarded by a castle with round towers whose walls have enclosed the village cemetery since the 19th century.
About Benadalid
Benadalid lies at about 690 metres on a shelf between the Genal and Guadiaro valleys, below the limestone Peñón de Benadalid (1,116 metres). The village was a Muslim stronghold on the Nasrid frontier, taken by the Marquis of Cádiz in 1485; in 1570 rebel Moriscos burned the castle and church. Around 230 people live here today.
The castle, trapezoidal with three surviving cylindrical towers and a cistern in the middle, was handed to the council in the 19th century and still serves as the cemetery; visitors may walk in quietly. The parish church of San Isidoro, founded in 1505 and enlarged in the 18th century, keeps a Mudéjar doorway. The Cruz del Humilladero of 1776 stands in the village, and an 18th-century fountain and houses with coats of arms line the steep streets.
Benadalid is 23 km from Ronda (30 minutes) on the A-369 and about 140 km from Málaga airport (2 hours). Park on the main road beside the castle; the village lanes are steep but short. Allow one to two hours, or combine it with Benalauría. It suits walkers.
Come in spring or autumn. The patron's fiestas on the last weekend of August include the Moros y Cristianos, recited in verse in front of the castle. Try migas, rabbit stews, chacinas and Morisco-style almond pastries. Tip: the Mirador de los Castañares nearby has the best view of the valley.
Benadalid in pictures
What you’ll find
- Car parkParkingFree
- CastleCastle visitFree
- ChurchChurch visitFree
- FestivalAnnual festivalFree
- Hiking trailHikingFree
- Historic centreOld town walkFree
- Local foodLocal cuisineBuy
- Moorish quarterMoorish heritage walkFree
- ViewpointSightseeingFree
Nearby places to visit
Benalauría (2 km), with its oil-mill museum and Moorish lanes, is a short walk away on a signed path. The Cueva de la Pileta (9 km) near Benaoján has Palaeolithic paintings of horses, goats and fish, seen on small guided tours. South-west, the Cañón de las Buitreras (13 km) is a gorge of the river Guadiaro with a vulture colony. In Ronda, El Tajo de Ronda (17 km) is the 100-metre gorge spanned by the Puente Nuevo, and Genalguacil (7 km), the village full of outdoor art, faces Benadalid across the Genal valley.
Benadalid at a glance
Category
Culture White villages
Location
Serranía de Ronda, Málaga
Town
Benadalid
Address
Calle Harina, 29493 Benadalid, Málaga, Spain
Opening hours
Open access; the streets can be visited at any time. The castle-cemetery is open during the day; please respect it as a working cemetery. Church: open for services.
Prices
Free to walk around; castle free.
Website
benadalid.es
More places nearby
Other places within 25 km of Benadalid, nearest first.
