Ceramics 'Viajeros Romanticos' (romatic travellers) - Ronda

Near the "Palacio de Congresos" of Ronda and not far from "Puente Nuevo" stands this beautiful mural with ceramic tiles. In the center is an airmail map of the city from above and its main tourist attractions. Surrounding the mural are a number of 18th-century quotes from ancient travelers who wrote about their adventures.

What are Romantic Travelers ? Ronda lived the 19th century in its mountainous isolation until foreign travelers discovered it at the height of the Romantic movement . The usual itinerary of romantic travelers through Andalusia included the major historical cities (Córdoba, Seville, Cádiz, Málaga, Granada,...) and, along with them, Ronda. Ronda was an unusual place for romantic travelers, and getting there was an adventurous experience . Along the way, there was the risk of encountering mule drivers, smugglers and bandits that populated the roads.

The mule drivers, rough and sometimes dangerous people, provided the traveler with strings of expert mules on those trails and roads, and distributed all manner of merchandise to the inhabitants of the area.

The smugglers were close and trusted persons of the mountain people. They traded in fabrics, clothing, tobacco and all kinds of products. These were often brought past customs from Gibraltar without paying any tax. Often there was collusion with customs.

Finally , the bandits were an important figure for the Romantics and idealized by them . Characters that were considered somewhere between outlaws and heroes. José Maria "el Tempranillo" is said to have robbed more than 110 travelers on their way to the Ronda fair in one morning .

Willem Vandenameele