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Ronda - Arab Walls and City Gates
Zuz2006-02-16 17:36:50
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The location of Ronda at the top of a rocky hill has given the city, among its history, a strong strategic as well as defensive value. The Medina was located here at the Arab age, with well defined city limits drawn on one side, by the natural border given by gorge made on the mountains by the Guadalevin river and, on the other side, by the city walls themselves.
From the important city wall, well conserved today, we have to remark specially the Almocabar gate, located at the southern part of the medina, built at the 13th century and restored, and changed its aspect, at the age of Charles V. This gate takes its name from the Arab word“Al-maqabir“, that means cementery, because it is located near the main city cementery, outside the city walls, as common between the arabs. It was one of the main entrance city gates and it gave the access to the High city quarter, today called of the Holy Spirit, as well as the entrance to the Arab Medina.
Halfway through the 16th century, a new access entrance was added to the front side of the gate, with quadrate ground and main entrance with battlements made according to the Renaissance style,consisting of a semicircular arch made of stone, and over it a big royal arm coat with the Spanish empire eagle on it.
Another remarkable point of the city walls is located at the eastern side of the city: the walls and gates of Cijara. This area consists of a double defensive line where the islamic outside quarters as well as the Arab public baths were located.
At least, it is interesting to mention the western side city walls of Albacara, whose function was to defend the productive areas of the city (the mills) and to keep the casttle in case of danger for the city.
At this city sector there can be found two other entrance gates to the medina: The Gate called of JesuChrist or of the Mills and the Wind Gate.
See photographs from:
Spain Gallery
