La Casa del Rey Moro

Relaxing gardens and journey inside caves down to the bottom of the gorge which gives plenty of opportunities for some great photos. You can see the outside of the house but the house itself is closed to the public. To get the most out of a visit don’t rush through it and stop and scan the QR codes on signs to launch YouTube audio commentary on the various sections. Hopefully the wooden walkways at the bottom of the gorge will open in the future which will make it even better.

Unfortunately, this visit did not live up to expectations. Although the location itself has great potential, the experience felt poorly planned and not worth the €10 entrance fee per person. Several parts of the area appeared neglected: fountains were not operating, some lighting was broken, and much of the vegetation looked dry or uninviting. What made the experience particularly disappointing was the lack of information. When paying the entrance fee, we were not told that the café was closed — something we had been looking forward to and had specifically planned for. Even more frustrating, once we reached the water, the walking path along the cliff was closed. This trail was one of the main reasons we chose to visit, yet there was no notice or warning beforehand. Overall, the visit felt overpriced given the limited access and maintenance issues. If you are mainly interested in views and gardens, there are nearby alternatives such as Jardines de Cue that are free of charge and offer a more enjoyable experience.

We visited Casa del Rey Moro today and overall it was an interesting experience, but not quite what we expected for the entry fee. The garden is small and simple, with some nice views, but nothing spectacular. The descent of more than 200 steps into the mine is unique, but quite demanding, not really recommended for people with heart or knee problems. Bring water with you and don’t come in flip-flops or sandals, good shoes make a big difference. At the bottom, two platforms were closed and the water was unfortunately very dirty, with algae and even plastic waste. A bit disappointing compared to the photos we had seen before. Still, the views are beautiful and worth a few pictures, but the place would really shine with better maintenance.

The entrance fee was €10 per person. While the visit had potential, the gardens left me somewhat disappointed. The entrance area looked lovely at first glance, but several details gave a run down impression — the fountains weren’t working, lights were broken, and much of the greenery was either dry or not in bloom. I understand this may be due to the season, but for a place that receives tourists year-round (or so), there are certainly ways to keep the gardens attractive in all seasons. Overall, the entrance fee felt a bit too high. If you are going for the views, next to the gardens is free of charge Jardines de Cue, beautiful views and gardens.

A beautiful gem of a place with culture, history and amazing panoramic views. It's truly underrated and while not Alhambra, it is of importance and beauty if you don't wanna venture further into Andalusia and Granada.

Beautiful garden area and d neat to be able to walk down the water mine to the river. Highly recommend

It is a real oasis with a beautiful park. Unfortunately the park is in need of some love and care, and that's why I subtract one star. The "kings house" is in a very bad state and should be renovated to its former glory, if I had any say in the matter. The "mine" is a must-see if you are able to climb all the stairs up and down, and is a true gem.

The garden is beautiful but to get to the bottom of the mine and see the river you’ll have to use the stairs and then go up the same way. Not easy but totally worth it.

I stopped in here for an afternoon drink after doing some sightseeing around Ronda. Beautiful views of the city and a lovely patio. Definitely tourist-oriented. Service was good very relaxed atmosphere.

*This listing is for the historical landmark / museum, Palacio del Rey Moro. There are other Yelp listings, with German reviews, for the bar with the same name. Entry fee was 5€ pp, cash. The palace is currently under renovation (visited during the off-season). There is no actual palace to visit, just the gardens and the water mine, which is a very long staircase, inside a stone structure, down the side of the ravine, to a water source on the floor of the Tajo. This historic site is a layering of history. The 14thC water mine is authentic to the days of Moorish rule. However, the palace was built in the 18thC, long after the Moors were banished from Spain. The palace was later remodeled by the Duchess of Parcent in 1920. The gardens were created in 1912, by Jean Claude Forestier (the same French architect who designed the Maria Luisa Park in Seville). So you get a combination of stories about historical figures who were never contemporaries of one another. The main attraction at this museum is definitely La Mina (the water mine). THE MINE In the 14thC, Moorish king, Abomelik, ordered the cutting of steps into the stone walls of el Tajo so he could have Christian slaves chained to the steps, to pass water up all day, from río Guadelevin. The mine was built concealed, to be kept secret, presumably, from potential invaders, but it was a well-known fear among Spanish Christians that "in Ronda you die carrying water skins." Note that historic records state there were 365 steps in the mine, but today there are 231, and no evidence of the missing steps. When I saw this place on the Rick Steves Andalucía episode, I couldn't wait to visit. When I got to the winding, grueling 231 stone steps, of non-uniform size, with dripping water all over, making them slippery, I was not as excited. It is a workout, but a good one. I am very glad we did it in the off-season, and not when there are a million sweaty tourists crowding the passage, making it insufferable! Note that the steps of the mine are not the entire descent. There are various terraces in the garden at the top, each with a flight of stairs, leading you slowly down to the mine itself. You have already descended about 1/3 of the cliff before you even get to the mine. *This place is not at all accessible for disabled persons. The mine, in Moorish times, was the only source of water for the city, and the steps were later the means by which Spanish Christian troops forced entry into Ronda to recapture it 1485. THE PALACE Folklore names this place "Palace of the Moorish King" under the belief that a prior palace stood on this site, as the home of King Almonated (who has no Wiki article nor Googleable info). All info I could find about this king was just part of the folklore of this castle. THE GARDENS The gardens are a series of courtyard-type niches at street level, followed by stepped terraces graduating down to the entry of the mine. There is not a lot of grassy / soil area, mostly paved patio or pea gravel, along with various small ponds and fountains. There are places to sit on tiled benches. The gardens are in need of a lot of cosmetic repairs (cracked pavers, mildewed paint, chipped tiles, etc). But you can still appreciate their beauty, and the views from them are amazing. In summary, I would definitely say it was worth my fiver, and all that physical exertion to make contact with 700-year-old history. Definitely a top stop on my Ronda list. * * * TIP * * * One tourism guide stated that one of the chambers along the mine's staircase is called Sala de Secretos (Room of Secrets) because while 2 people, each standing close to the wall at opposite ends of the room, can hear each other, their words are oddly completely inaudible to anyone standing in the middle of the same room. Tourists like to put it to the test. (This phenomenon is similar to the "Whispering Gallery" in St. Paul's Cathedral, London.)