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Winter Opening Hours:
Open MON- SUN
10.00- 20.00
Closed Sun lunchtime
Group Tour Bookings
available.
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Santa Maria Cathedral|Ronda Plaza Duquesa de Parcent
Ronda
Malaga
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More Virtual Tours of Ronda's Cathedral, Santa Maria:
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Welcome to Ronda's Cathedral, Iglesia Santa Maria, Ronda, Spain
According to the archaeological studies undertaken in the Ronda region, the church of the Virgin Mary of the Incarnation (Iglesia Santa Maria) was located near the remains of a paleochristian basilica from the 14th century A.D. Some historians also date the church back as far as the Roman Empire, having at that time the function of temple. This late suposition has still not been proved by archeological studies.
In the same place, during the Arab domination period of Ronda's History, stood the main mosque of the Medina. From that age there remains now the arch of Mirhab and part of its wall, with vegetable-based arab plaster decoration, just hidden from view as it is located behind the tabernacle's altar.
The Catholic Monarchs, after the conquest of the City of Ronda, ordered the building of a temple in the place of the mosque, and the construction started in 1485 and, after several problems, ended at the end of the 17th century.
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The Gothic style is seen in three of Santa Maria's naves. Although the earthquake of 1580 destroyed part of the building, hidding the pure gothic style of the church, it can be still admired in the columns or at the oval arches over them.
The Cathedral owes some design to the Renaissance style in certain areas of the church, conserving one wonderful two-stage Choir area, made of walnut and cedarwood. The seats of the lower part of the chorister consists of 12 seats with their wooden backs carved with the symbols of the Virgin's litany, while the high part of the choir consists of 24 seats, with wooden backs carved with sculptures of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, the Apostles and different Saints.
The church ends with different baroque elements, made at the same time as the building was finished. The most important parts are the sculpture of the Virgin called "Mayor Dolor" (Highest Pain), organized in three different sections with lots of decoration at its sides. A great space covered with a semicircular arch leads to the chapel where the sculpture of the Virgin is located, it's sculptor, according to some art historians Montañés and, according to others, “La Roldana”.
Without doubt, the church of Santa María La Mayor is one of the most important sacred monuments in Ronda, if not Andalucia.
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