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Palace · Ronda, Andaluzia
Palacio de Mondragón
Palace of Muslim origin, remodeled after 1485, with a Mudéjar courtyard and a garden on the cliff edge. It houses the Museo Municipal de Ronda, covering the period from prehistory to the expulsion of the Moriscos.
Illustrative images. The pictures in this guide are illustrations based on the real place, not photographs, and may differ from it.
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About Palacio de Mondragón
The palace stands in the upper part of La Ciudad, the old medina. In the 14th century the Marinid king Abd al-Malik lived there, son of the Moroccan sultan Abu al-Hasan. Later, under the Kingdom of Granada, it was the residence of the Nasrid governor. The last was Hamet el Zegrí. From the Muslim phase remain the plan, the foundations and underground passages.
With the conquest of 1485, the Catholic Monarchs stayed in the palace during their time in Ronda. Afterwards it passed to Captain Melchor de Mondragón, whose coat of arms is on the portal and who gave the building its name. Later it belonged to Fernando de Valenzuela, Marquis of Villasierra.
The façade dates from the early 16th century, with two square brick towers at the corners, and in the 18th century a Baroque stone portal was added. The interior revolves around three courtyards: the entrance courtyard, from the 18th century; the Patio Mudéjar, from the 16th century, with arches on marble columns and bands of tile; and a courtyard in a late Gothic style. From the Patio Mudéjar, a horseshoe arch leads to the garden on the cliff.
The Museo Municipal occupies the palace rooms. The route goes from the geology of the Serranía, with the formation of the Tajo, through the caves' prehistory, Roman Ronda and the period of al-Andalus, up to the expulsion of the Moriscos at the start of the 17th century. There is a collection of Andalusi funerary steles and audiovisuals about the capture of Ronda in 1485.
Before you go
Practical information
Cidade Turismo reviews its information regularly, but something may have changed. Check with the place before planning your trip.
How much time to set aside
About 45 minutes to 1 hour for the courtyards, the garden and the museum.
Best time
Around midday, to escape the sun between one viewpoint and another. The garden, with its view of the valley, is more pleasant in the morning. Check days and opening times before you go.
How to get there
It is on the Plaza de Mondragón, in La Ciudad, about a 5-minute walk from the Puente Nuevo and the Iglesia de Santa María la Mayor.
Tip
Entrance is included in the municipal tourist pass, together with the Baños Árabes and the Puente Nuevo interpretation centre. When you leave, walk to the nearby Plaza del Campillo, from where you can see the valley and where the trail down the slope begins.
Official website
Get your questions answered
Frequently asked questions about Palacio de Mondragón
What's inside the Palacio de Mondragón?
The Museo Municipal de Ronda, with rooms on geology, prehistory, Roman times, al-Andalus and the Christian conquest, as well as the palace's courtyards and garden.
Who lived in the palace?
In the 14th century, the Marinid king Abd al-Malik; later the Nasrid governor, up to Hamet el Zegrí. In 1485 the Catholic Monarchs stayed there, and later it passed to Captain Melchor de Mondragón.
What is the Patio Mudéjar?
It is the 16th-century courtyard that gives access to the garden. It has brick arches on marble columns, a band of tiles and a horseshoe arch that leads to the terrace over the cliff.