Ronda - La Casa del Rey Moro

by Robert Bovington

La Casa del Rey Moro Ronda

'La Casa del Rey Moro' - allegedly the house of a Moorish King - hence its name. However, the current building is an 18th century palace with beautiful gardens designed by Forestier, the famous French garden designer. Perhaps the palace has been built on the site of a former building because, according to legend, this place was the residence of King Al-Mutadid who allegedly drank his wine from the skulls of his enemies.
...

Ronda - Mina stairs in La Casa del Rey Moro

Inside there are steps down to the foot of the gorge. Now these are Arabic. The 14th century Mina stairs was built by the Moors to prevent water blockades in times of war. The steps were sculpted out of the rock and, according to various guidebooks, there are meant to be 365 of them. Well, on my visit, I counted only 299! That was enough! Returning to the top quite exhausted, it was with relief that I rested - in the delightful gardens of the mansion.

Ronda - Tajo Gorge

Ronda - Forestier Gardens

more blogs by Robert Bovington... 

"Photographs of Spain"	http://bovingtonphotosofspain.blogspot.com/
"postcards from Spain"	http://bovington-posts.blogspot.com/
"you couldn't make it up!"	http://bovingtonycmitup.blogspot.com/
"a grumpy old man in Spain"	http://grumpybobbov.blogspot.com/
"bits and bobs"	http://bovingtonbitsandblogs.blogspot.com/
"Spanish Expressions"	http://spanishsayingsbovington.blogspot.com/
"Spanish Art"	http://bovingtonspanishart.blogspot.com/
"Books About Spain"	http://bovingtonbooks.blogspot.com/

Ronda - La Casa del Rey Moro

'La Casa del Rey Moro' - allegedly the house of a Moorish King - hence its name. However, the current building is an 18th century palace with beautiful gardens designed by Forestier, the famous French garden designer. Perhaps the palace has been built on the site of a former building because, according to legend, this place was the residence of King Al-Mutadid who allegedly drank his wine from the skulls of his enemies.


Inside there are steps down to the foot of the gorge. Now these are Arabic. The 14th century Mina stairs was built by the Moors to prevent water blockades in times of war. The steps were sculpted out of the rock and, according to various guidebooks, there are meant to be 365 of them. Well, on my visit, I counted only 299! That was enough! Returning to the top quite exhausted, it was with relief that I rested - in the delightful gardens of the mansion.

Robert Bovington
https://plus.google.com/118235640981670233395/posts

more blogs by Robert Bovington...

"Photographs of Spain"	http://bovingtonphotosofspain.blogspot.com/
"postcards from Spain"	http://bovington-posts.blogspot.com/
"you couldn't make it up!"	http://bovingtonycmitup.blogspot.com/
"a grumpy old man in Spain"	http://grumpybobbov.blogspot.com/
"bits and bobs"	http://bovingtonbitsandblogs.blogspot.com/
"Spanish Expressions"	http://spanishsayingsbovington.blogspot.com/
"Spanish Art"	http://bovingtonspanishart.blogspot.com/
"Books About Spain"	http://bovingtonbooks.blogspot.com/

More Blogs!

If you like my "Spanish Impressions" blog, you may like to view some of my other blogs:-

"Photographs of Spain"	http://bovingtonphotosofspain.blogspot.com/
"postcards from Spain"	http://bovington-posts.blogspot.com/
"you couldn't make it up!"	http://bovingtonycmitup.blogspot.com/
"a grumpy old man in Spain"	http://grumpybobbov.blogspot.com/
"bits and bobs"	http://bovingtonbitsandblogs.blogspot.com/
"Spanish Expressions"	http://spanishsayingsbovington.blogspot.com/
"Spanish Art"	http://bovingtonspanishart.blogspot.com/
"Books About Spain"	http://bovingtonbooks.blogspot.com/

You may also like to view my WordPress blogs:-

"Spanish Impressions"	http://bovingtoninspain.wordpress.com/
"postcards from Spain"	http://postcardsofspain.wordpress.com/
"Books About Spain"	http://bovingtonbooksaboutspain.wordpress.com/
"bits and bobs"	http://bitsandbobbovington.wordpress.com/
"Spanish Expressions"	http://spanishexpressions.wordpress.com/
"Photographs of Spain"	http://bovingtonphotosofspain.wordpress.com/
"Spanish Art"	http://bovingtonspanishart.wordpress.com/
"a grumpy old man in Spain"	http://grumpyoldbobinspain.wordpress.com/
"you couldn't make it up!"	http://bovingtonycmitup.wordpress.com/

Robert Bovington
March 2012

Cabo de Gata Natural Park's 25th Anniversary

In 1987 the Cabo de Gata-Nijar was declared a Natural land and sea park. Later, in 1997, it was designated as a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve and in 2001 it was included among the Specially Protected Areas of Mediterranean Importance. The park joined UNESCO's Global Geoparks Network in 2006. Other other categories of protection afforded this splendid park include Special Protection Area for birds and Wetland of International Importance - both in 1989.

The Parque Natural Cabo de Gata-Nijar is situated a few miles east of Almería. It is a delightful area that offers miles of unspoiled beaches with secluded coves, sand dunes and much more within its protected coastal reserve. It is one of my favourite areas in the province of Almería.
It is a nature lover's delight. There are thousands of different species there including the pink flamingo and the rare Italian wall lizard. There are eagles, kestrels, puffins, cormorants, oystercatchers and storks. The extraordinary wealth of wildlife is unbelievable. There are some species that are unique to the park. This includes the dragoncillo del Cabo, which flowers all the year round. Europe's only native palm tree - the dwarf fan - is to be found here. In the sea, there are bream, grouper, prawn and squid. There are hundreds of species of seaweed, which are home to the many varieties of crustacean, mollusc and fish.
Perhaps the reason for the great variation in wildlife is due to the diverse habitats in this natural park. The 71,500 acres of the Cabo de Gata is volcanic in origin and comprises coastal dunes, steep cliffs, spectacular beaches, salt marshes, saltpans, arid steppe, dry riverbeds and a substantial marine zone. It is probably this ecological diversity that has led to the park being designated a UNESCO biosphere reserve.

Cabo de Gata - Las Salinas

Robert Bovington
January 2012


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Almería - Bishop's Palace

Opposite the Cathedral is the 'Palacio Episcopal' or Archbishop's Palace. It was built in the nineteenth century when the upper classes started erecting grand stately homes and palaces outside the old walled city of Muslim Almería.

see more photos of Almería by clicking on the link below:

http://www.panoramio.com/user/2391258/tags/Almer%C3%ADa

Almería - Sol de Portocarrero

The east facing façade of Almería Cathedral has a relief of the Portocarro sun, the symbol of the city.

Almería Alcazaba

The undoubted jewel in the crown is the 'Alcazaba'. This enormous fortress dominates the city, standing as it does on a hill overlooking the town and the sea. It was built in the tenth century but, over the centuries, it had further enhancements added such as a Moorish palace and, in the time of the Catholic Kings, a Christian palace.

Panoramio - Photo of Almería Alcazaba

Almería - Murallas de Jayrán

'Muralla de Jayrán' — the walls were built to enlarge the city's defences in the 11th century. They run all the way to the 'Cerro de San Cristóbal' — the hill of Saint Christopher.

Panoramio - Photo of Almería - view from Alcazaba - Murallas de Jayrán

Almería - view from Alcazaba

The view southwest - the 'Castillo de San Telmo', Almería's lighthouse standing proudly on a rocky outcrop

Panoramio - Photo of Almería - view from Alcazaba

Almería Alcazaba - Torre de Homenaje

One of the towers of the Alcazaba is the 'Torre de Homenaje'. It has the coat of arms of the 'Catholic Monarchs' above the doorway. It was Ferdinand and Isabella who ordered the construction of this, the castle part of the 'Alcazaba'.

 

Panoramio - Photo of Almería Alcazaba - Torre de Homenaje