With its lush river valleys and many historic tales, the city of Ronda lies in one of the most beautiful regions of Andalusia, Spain. This mountaintop city sits dramatically above a deep gorge – El Tajo, the city’s means to survival before the invasion by Christian troops. So buckle up and get in the car, it’s only a 100 km drive from Malaga, and definitely worth discovering!
Attractions In Ronda: Casa Del Rey Moro
What makes this site worth seeing? We toured the Casa Del Rey Moro, one of the most visited sights in the region, to find out what there is to discover!

Image by @alex.piri
La Casa del Rey Moro, also known as the Moorish King’s house, is the point of entry to the water mine and the castle’s floating gardens. The steps that lead all the way down to the river gorge were created by the Moorish Kings. This enabled the city of Ronda to keep its water supplies while under attack.
The structure as we see it now was completed during the 18th century and it was remodelled in 1920 by the Duchess of Parcent. Rumour has it that the palace was the residence of the Moorish King, Abomelic. Recently, though, historians discovered that the King never actually lived there!
Casa Del Rey Moro Garden
When you enter the water mine, you have access to the Casa Del Rey Moro Gardens. In 1912, the well-known French landscape architect, Jean Claude Nicolas Forestier, constructed the gardens at La Casa Del Rey Moro.

Image by @miriammedia
Did you know that he was also the mastermind behind Maria Luisa Park in Seville and the Champ-de-Mars gardens at the Eiffel Tower in Paris?
What makes this garden so magical, is that it has ever-changing elevations, in perfect harmony with its surrounding magnificent landscapes. The gardens offer scenic views of the gorge, the El Tajo river, and the surrounding mountains. The structure of the steps and the design of the garden is a truly memorable experience that you should definitely visit.
Mines of Casa: The Water Mine
The Water Mine consists out of intertwined stairways and chambers. It starts at the top of Ronda’s cliff face and spirals down to the Guadalevin River. Ronda was sieged in 1485 when attackers took control of the water supply. Without water, the city couldn’t survive, and they had to surrender.

Image by @sal_scenes
Interested in a little piece of history? For many centuries, the Casa mines were the only water source the city could rely on. Slaves built the water mine and they were also used to carry the water up and down the stairs to the city. The steps were cut out of the stone walls of the gorge and many slave captives did not survive this hard labour.
Now you have the chance to relive history and retrace the footsteps of the Water Mine slaves – although some might find this a challenging climb! The Water Mine was restored in 1911 and is open for the public to visit. The feeling of tranquility and the calming sound of water gorge might convince you to head down there.

Image by @rebel_ing
Wander through the gardens at the palace, maybe visit the water mine and climb up and down the 231 stairs – if you’re fit and feeling like taking on an active adventure! So get ready, pack your camera and head down to Palacio Del Rey Moro in Ronda, where Spanish history lies waiting to be unravelled.
If you’re visiting the beautiful town of Ronda, be sure to also visit the famous and historic Ronda Bullring! You can also join a day tour of Ronda to explore the area.