Casa del Rey Moro, Historical mansion in Ronda, Spain
Casa del Rey Moro is an 18th-century mansion in Ronda, built along the edge of the gorge carved by the Guadalevin River. The property features tiered gardens on multiple levels and a stairway cut directly into the rock that descends to the river below.
The house as it stands today dates from the 18th century, but the rock-cut stairway known as La Mina goes back to the 14th century and was used to carry water up from the river into the city. The name of the building refers to a Moorish king, though there is no evidence that the structure itself dates from that period.
The gardens were designed in the early 20th century by French landscape architect Jean-Claude Nicolas Forestier, who also worked on the gardens for the 1929 Seville Exposition. His influence is visible in the tiled benches, fountains, and winding paths that connect the terraces stepping down toward the river.
Access to the property is limited to the gardens and the underground stairway; the main building cannot be visited. The descent toward the river involves steep and sometimes slippery steps, so sturdy footwear is a good idea.
Inside the rock-cut stairway system, there is a chamber known as the Sala de los Secretos where two people at opposite ends of the room can hear each other clearly while anyone standing in the middle hears nothing. The shape of the vaulted ceiling channels sound directly from one end to the other without letting it spread into the room.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
