Palacio de Mondragon (Mondragon Palace), Ronda

Abomelik, son of Abdul Hassan, sultan of Morocco, and Emperor of Fez ruled in Ronda's Golden Age. Some say the Mondragon Palace (Palacio de Mondragon) was built for him. This is unlikely. The palace was built in 1314.

Abomelik did not arrive in Ronda until after his resounding victories in Gibraltar in 1330. He did reside in the palace. However, his tenancy was short-lived. He died in battle against Alfonso XI at Jerez de la Frontera in 1338.

The Mondragon Palace today has been heavily renovated and a bit modernized. Some of the old details remain in the tiny building. There are Mudejar ceilings, original tiling, and galleries and balconies of the inner courtyards. Finest of all is the remaining water gardens. The gardens hover at the ultimate edge of the cliffs of Ronda.

The gardens are a popular venue for sculpture shows and weddings. The upper floor of the Mondragon Palace houses the town museum. The museum has permanent exhibits displaying artifacts and information covering several millennia of Andalusian history. The remainder of the palatial space is home to Ronda's main School of Languages.

The Catholic Monarchs Ferdinand and Isabella stayed at the palace in the 1490s. They ordered the first of many changes and additions. The front gallery is modern. The whole outer building around the courtyards dates from the 18th century. However, it might seem much the same to Hamet el Zegri, the last Moorish governor of Ronda.