Serranía de Ronda

Why visit Serranía de Ronda

The Serranía de Ronda fills the far west of Málaga province, a mountainous comarca of 23 municipalities stretching from the high plateau around Ronda down to the deep, wooded valleys of the Genal and Guadiaro rivers. Ronda itself is one of Andalucía’s most dramatic towns, split in two by the El Tajo gorge, while dozens of small white villages of Moorish origin perch on the slopes around it. Chestnut and cork oak forests, limestone crags and terraced orchards create a landscape that changes colour with every season, and parts of the Grazalema and Los Alcornocales natural parks reach into the comarca. It suits hikers, history lovers and slow travellers looking for mountain scenery and village life.

Main attractions in Serranía de Ronda

Ronda’s old quarter rewards a full day, with its Arab baths, the Casa del Rey Moro and its water mine, and the Real Maestranza bullring, one of Spain’s oldest. Outside town lie the Roman ruins of Acinipo and, near Benaoján, the Cueva de la Pileta with its prehistoric paintings. In the Genal valley, Genalguacil has become an open-air gallery of contemporary art, Júzcar is famous for its blue-painted houses, and Gaucín’s castle looks towards Gibraltar and Africa. Walkers can follow the riverside path between Benaoján and Jimera de Líbar along the Guadiaro, explore the chestnut woods that turn copper in autumn or try canyoning in the river gorges, while the Hundidero-Gato cave system draws cavers. Ronda’s wineries, chestnuts, game stews and mountain cheeses, plus the Feria Goyesca in September, complete the experience.