Iglesia de Santa Maria la Mayor (Church of Saint Mary the Elder), Ronda
Nestled on the footprint of a 13th-century mosque鈥攁nd a Visigothic ( they were Germanic tribes, known for the sacking of Rome ) church before that鈥攖he Church of Saint Mary the Elder stands in Duchess of Parcent Square, named for one of Spain鈥檚 first female deputies. Despite its holy purpose, that quirky tower and civic-style fa莽ade might have you wondering if you鈥檝e stumbled into the town hall by mistake.
Step inside and you鈥檒l find a vestibule boasting one of the original columns from the post-1485 cathedral鈥攊f only it could tell stories of that 1580 earthquake that crumbled its predecessor. Behind the altar, you can still spot a reminder of its time as a mosque鈥攁 mihrab niche and a wall decorated with intricate plant-like patterns, quietly recalling the days of Islamic prayer before church bells took over.
The building you see today is largely Renaissance, but Gothic ghosts linger in the ogival arches and sturdy columns. Late-16th-century balconies鈥攁dded under Philip II for Cavalry School noble spectators鈥攕till hover above the street, as if waiting for the next joust. Up in the choir loft, two tiers of cedar and walnut seats are carved with Mary鈥檚 symbols, apostles, and saints, all gazing down at a Baroque altarpiece of Our Lady of Great Sorrow. It鈥檚 a mash-up of faith, history, and architectural remix that proves: in Ronda, churches enjoy a multi-layered past.
Step inside and you鈥檒l find a vestibule boasting one of the original columns from the post-1485 cathedral鈥攊f only it could tell stories of that 1580 earthquake that crumbled its predecessor. Behind the altar, you can still spot a reminder of its time as a mosque鈥攁 mihrab niche and a wall decorated with intricate plant-like patterns, quietly recalling the days of Islamic prayer before church bells took over.
The building you see today is largely Renaissance, but Gothic ghosts linger in the ogival arches and sturdy columns. Late-16th-century balconies鈥攁dded under Philip II for Cavalry School noble spectators鈥攕till hover above the street, as if waiting for the next joust. Up in the choir loft, two tiers of cedar and walnut seats are carved with Mary鈥檚 symbols, apostles, and saints, all gazing down at a Baroque altarpiece of Our Lady of Great Sorrow. It鈥檚 a mash-up of faith, history, and architectural remix that proves: in Ronda, churches enjoy a multi-layered past.
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Iglesia de Santa Maria la Mayor (Church of Saint Mary the Elder) on Map
Sight Name: Iglesia de Santa Maria la Mayor (Church of Saint Mary the Elder)
Sight Location: Ronda, Spain (See walking tours in Ronda)
Sight Type: Religious
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:
Sight Location: Ronda, Spain (See walking tours in Ronda)
Sight Type: Religious
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:
Walking Tours in Ronda, Spain
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Ronda Introduction Walking Tour
Imagine a city so dramatic it naturally inspired myth and empire鈥攚elcome to Ronda, where every cliff, gate, and square flaunts history. Before the Romans and Visigoths muscled in, Celtic tribes called this rocky promontory Arunda. The Phoenicians and Romans left their mark, but it was the Umayyads in 713 who gave us Rundah, which means the 鈥淐astle on the Cliff.鈥� Next up, in 1485, and... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.8 Km or 1.7 Miles
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.8 Km or 1.7 Miles