Top 10 Castles around Ronda

We didn't manage to visit the castle... unfortunately. It was constantly closed. We did see people upstairs, but we don't understand how they got there.

Public museum in a 14th-century house with gardens, courtyards, balconies, and water features. Address: Pl. Mondragón, s/n, 29400 Ronda, Málaga, Spain Province: Málaga Phone: +34 952 87 08 18 Opening Hours: Friday 9:30 AM–7:00 PM Saturday 10:00 AM–2:00 PM, 3:00 PM–6:00 PM Sunday (Fiesta Nacional de España) 10:00 AM–3:00 PM Opening hours may vary Monday (Fiesta Nacional de España (celebration)) 10:00 AM–2:00 PM, 3:00 PM–6:00 PM Opening hours may vary Tuesday 9:30 AM–7:00 PM Wednesday 9:30 AM–7:00 PM Thursday 9:30 AM–7:00 PM

The name Palacio de Mondragón is very well-known in Ronda. But its other name, Palacio del Marqués de Villasierra (once a very important resident of Ronda), is less well-known. In any case, this palace is Ronda's most important monument (besides the bridge and the bullring), for both historical and architectural reasons. There is a legend that this was the residence of the great Moorish king Abbel Malik. He was the son of the Sultan of Morocco, Abul Asan. A few years after his death, the then-kingdom of Ronda passed into the hands of Granada, just before Ronda was conquered by Catholic soldiers. It is known that the last governor, Hamet el Zegri, lived in this palace. To this day, it is not known exactly what the palace looked like during the Moorish period. A few Mudéjar remains provide a general idea. What is more known is that the most significant changes were made later by the Christian rulers. The current location of the garden, for example, dates from that period. The current Gothic-style patio and various wooden ceilings were built at that time. The palace is now open to the public, very beautiful and well worth a visit. Not only can you admire the beautiful palace with its garden and stunning views, but it also houses a museum showcasing the history of the palace and the Ronda region.

See: https://rondatoday.com/rondas-mondragon-palace/

The Parish of Our Lady of the Incarnation is one of Olvera's most iconic monuments, both for its imposing architecture and its historical and religious significance. It was commissioned by the Dukes of Osuna at the end of the 18th century and completed in 1843. It was built on the remains of an old Moorish mosque and a Gothic-Mudejar church, the apse of which is still preserved in the baptismal chapel. It has undergone several restorations, the most recent between 1994 and 1999, and again in 2010 after a fire damaged a processional image.

Olvera Castle is one of the most iconic monuments in the White Villages of Cádiz, offering a stunning historical and visual experience. It was built in the late 12th century by the Arabs as part of the defensive system of the Nasrid Kingdom of Granada. After the Christian conquest, the castle was renovated several times, incorporating Christian architectural elements. It was declared a Site of Cultural Interest in 1985 and is part of the Olvera Historic-Artistic Complex.

The Iglesia Parroquial de Nuestra Señora de la Encarnación in Olvera is the town's most striking church building and, together with the neighboring Moorish castle, dominates the town's panorama. It towers high above the historic Barrio de la Villa district and is visible from afar. The church was built in 1822 in the neoclassical style on the foundations of an earlier Renaissance church. This, in turn, stood on the site of a former Muslim mosque, as was common in many Andalusian towns. Construction dragged on for decades and was not completed until the end of the 19th century. The church is characterized by its monumental façade, flanked by two large towers. The building's style was inspired by the great cathedrals of Spain – unusually imposing for a town the size of Olvera.

The Castillo de Olvera is a historic fortress in the Andalusian town of Olvera (province of Cádiz). It was built by the Moors in the late 12th century and served as part of the defense system of the Nasrid Kingdom of Granada. The castle sits atop a 623-meter-high cliff and offers sweeping views of the surrounding landscape. The castle has an irregular, elongated-triangular floor plan that follows the shape of the cliff. Particularly striking is the rectangular Torre del Homenaje (Keep) in the southern part of the complex. It has two stories with barrel vaults and was the central element of the defense. Other features of the fortress include a barbican-protected entrance gate, battlements, towers, an underground vault, and two cisterns for the water supply. After its conquest by Castilian troops under King Alfonso XI in 1327, the Moorish fortress was extensively rebuilt. This is where many of the Christian elements visible today were created. Since 1985, the Castillo de Olvera has been listed as a "Bien de Interés Cultural" (Cultural Property of Special Interest). Opening Hours: Summer (approx. April–October): Tuesday to Sunday, 10:30 a.m.–2:00 p.m. & 4:00 p.m.–7:00 p.m. Winter (approx. November–March): Tuesday to Sunday, 10:30 a.m.–2:00 p.m. & 4:00 p.m.–6:00 p.m. Closed on Mondays Admission: €2 per person. Tickets are available at the Tourist Office. (As of May 2025)