A 14th-Century Monument: The History of Casa del Rey Moro

Casa del Rey Moro, nestled in Ronda, is a captivating ensemble that dates back to the 14th century. Divided into three principal sections - an ancient water mine, a neo-Mudéjar house, and a garden by Jean-Claude Nicolas Forestier - it spans approximately 3700 m² of land, offering vistas of the Tajo from its lofty position in the north of the old city, situated just at the opposite end from the Puerta de Almocábar and the old Alcázar.

The site features a water mine designed to extract water from the river Guadalevín through a large waterwheel installed in one of its rooms. This mine played a key role in 1485 during the conquest of Ronda by the Castilian army, as troops attacked a weak flank to disable the wheel and cut off the water supply. Following this period, a house was built over the mine in the 18th century.

Casa del Rey Moro belonged to various members linked to the family that held the Marquisate of Salvatierra starting in 1767. In 1911, it was sold to Trinidad von Scholtz Hermensdorff, who performed the most significant renovations, including the neo-Mudéjar style construction and the commission of a garden by Forestier. The site later came into the possession of Lawrence Perin, who brought the monument to the attention of those interested in the history and culture of Ronda.

Sources: Wikipedia, OpenStreetMap, Wikidata, Wikimedia Commons