Church of Santa Maria la Mayor - Ronda

The first stone of this church was laid in 1485 , but construction was not completed until the end of the seventeenth century.

The church stands on the site of a mosque that was once part of the Moorish medina in Ronda. Even earlier, a church from the Visigothic period stood here and possibly even a Roman temple.

The facade is more reminiscent of the entrance of a town hall than of a church. Above the portico with colonnade are two balconies, both supported by a number of columns and capitals. In the mid-sixteenth century, when Philip II of Spain was in power, dignitaries watched bullfights and parades from their balconies.

On the left side of the structure is an octagonal bell tower . Note the Gothic tracery and spires on the bell tower.

The church has three naves inside, which are characterized by the tall, Gothic columns and vaults . The Baroque altarpiece and Renaissance choir are admirable.

There is also a fresco depicting Christopher Columbus and the icon of the Virgen del Mayor Dolor.

The bell in the vestibule is a duplicate of the bells that ring every hour in the tower above you.

Willem Vandenameele