DEVELOPMENT PLAN FOR TOURISM IN THE SERRANIA DE RONDA The Serranía de Ronda in Málaga province has been designated as a “Pilot Tourist Destination”, as provided for in the overall Collaboration RONDA AND THE THE GUADIARO VALLEY THE GENAL VALLEY THE RONDA MASSIF AND Agreement which incorporates this Tourism Plan. The “actions” are co-financed by the State Tourism Secretariat, the Regional Government SERRANÍA DE RONDA AND THE LÍBAR MASSIF THE SIERRA DE LAS NIEVES of Andalucía and Málaga Provincial Council (who are administering the plan through their Tourism Department), with the Centro de Iniciativas Turísticas de la Serranía de Ronda and the Consortium Serranía de Ronda taking an active role as part of the above-mentioned agreement. l Situated in the north-west of the province of Málaga, the Serranía de l Benaoján, Cortes de la Frontera, Jimera de Líbar and Montejaque are l Algatocín, Alpandeire, Atajate, Benadalid, Benalauría, Benarrabá, l Arriate, Parauta and Ronda make up this area where on one side are the The ultimate aim of this plan is to promote the resources, the services Ronda covers an area of more than 1,500 square kilometres. The region the municipalities which make up this area bordering the River Guadiaro Cartajima, Faraján, Gaucín, Genalguacil, Igualeja, Jubrique, Júzcar, highest peaks of the entire region, with el Torrecilla (1,919 metres) in the and the tourism “offer” of a specific area as a structured project, adding is characterised by its rural terrain in which two large valleys stand out, and overlapping into the Malaga part of the Sierra de Grazalema and Los Parauta and Pujerra make up one of the nature reserves of the whole Sierra de las Nieves Natural Park, and the most populated areas of the extra value to the area. Quality and environmental issues are paramount the Valley of the Guadiaro River and the Valley of the Genal River. These Alcornocales natural parks. Serranía de Ronda with the most natural eco-systems, geological diversity, Ronda massif. in its design and realisation. contrast with the plains of the Ronda massif and the mountains of the variety of wildlife and endemic botanical species. Sierra de las Nieves. l A part of the Sierra de las Nieves Bio-sphere Reserve is framed by the This is the fourth plan of this kind aimed at an inland area to be l Such bio-diversity has led to the area being under consideration by municipal districts of Parauta and Ronda, which gives you a feel of the undertaken in the province of Málaga. It lasts for four years and has a l The main attractions of the area are its culture and its natural the European Union as an SCI (Site of Community Importance). It is also natural heritage of the area. budget of 4,530,000 Euros. The first two annual payments will be used in features, which together with the rich ethnographic heritage maintained part of the first Mediterranean Intercontinental Bio-sphere Reserve to be the period 2009-2010 with several actions already agreed and others at by its inhabitants through many generations, offer the visitor countless declared by UNESCO, which, with other areas of Andalucía and the north of l As well as being the urban centre Ronda has several districts and sub- the completion or development stage. opportunities for visits and excursions. Morocco, has an impact on the whole of the Serranía de Ronda. districts, two of which, Montecorto and Serrato, have more inhabitants than some of the designated pueblos (villages) of the region. The actions are: l In terms of culture there are remains which confirm that the different l The 60 km of the River Genal and its tributaries are marked out by peoples who occupied the south of the Iberian Peninsula passed through various mills and family-owned huertas (vegetable gardens). In the higher l More and more grapevines are being planted on the existing traditional st nd the Serranía de Ronda. Prominent amongst these remains are the cave l Upgrading of the Regional Tourism Office, located in Ronda (1 and 2 parts of the valley the huge chestnut groves provide a natural spectacle arable land; the grapes grown there supply the 20 or so wineries established paintings in the Cueva de la Pileta near Benaoján, the Roman theatre and phases) every autumn when the leaves, before falling, change their green colour in the area. l Upgrading of Tourist Information Points in hotels and other premises Roman city of Acinipo, the Arab castles in Benadalid and Gaucín and the for all kinds of ochres, reds and yellows, offering a different landscape historic quarter of Ronda. l Provision of bird-watching sites (ongoing) every day which passes. l Apart from the number of monuments in the historic quarter of Ronda l Provision of recreational facilities and upgrading of the Eucalyptus l and the beauty of the villages and districts, the visitor should not miss: Arboretum in El Colmenar (Cortes de la Frontera) A detail which illustrates the significance of the natural features of the area is the fact that the whole of the Serranía de Ronda, together l Provision of recreational facilities in Montecorto - The Sierra de las Nieves Natural Park: The many public amenities, such l Restoration of sculptures in Genalguacil (open-air museum) with other parts of Andalucía and the northern part of Morocco, make up the Mediterranean Intercontinental Biosphere Reserve, the first as signposted paths, recreational areas, etc., are well used by visitors. l Design for the development of the network of view-points. Project l intercontinental area to be declared a Biosphere Reserve by UNESCO. The Because of its depth and length the Guadiaro is the most important The biggest attraction in the Natural Park is the Pinsapar de la Nava and l Creation of a network of viewing points (ongoing) river of the Serranía de Ronda and in this area it flows parallel to the the Cañadas de las Ánimas and the Cañadas del Cuerno which make up a l huge biological diversity of the region is reinforced by the different areas Fray Leopoldo (Brother Leopold) viewing point in Alpandeire COPY of the region which come under some sort of official protection: railway line which joins Bobadilla and Algeciras. As a result, in addition to part of the 3,000 hectares of Spanish fir woods in the Park. Prominent are l Monument to Fray Leopoldo in Alpandeire the main population centres, there are other settlements at Estación de the Pinsapo de las Escaleretas, which has been designated as a Natural l Wooden screens for rubbish containers - Three Natural Parks: the Sierra de Grazalema (comprising the villages Benaoján/Montejaque, Estación de Jimera de Líbar, Estación de Cortes de Monument. Also worthy of note is the Puerto de los Pilones high peak FREE l Illumination of Gaucín Castle of Benaoján, Cortes de la Frontera, Jimera de Líbar, Montejaque la Frontera (also known as La Cañada del Real Tesoro) and at El Colmenar gall-oak grove, halfway up the path to el Torrecilla from Quejigales. l Artistic lighting for the irrigation channels in Montecorto and Ronda), the Sierra de las Nieves (Parauta and Ronda) and Los (aka Estación de Gaucín). l Complete signposting of the region (ongoing) Alcornocales (Cortes de la Frontera) l Tourism infrastructure in Faraján l Young and old can enjoy this valley by combining a walk in one direction l Upgrading in the Casa de Moros y Cristianos (Moors and Christians - One Nature Reserve: the Sierra Bermeja (Genalguacil) with a train ride back, without it being too strenuous. Museum) in Benalauría - Two Natural Monuments: the Cañón de las Buitreras (Canyon of l Apart from the beauty of its villages the following features of the area l Conference and meeting room in Benalauría the Vultures) in Cortes de la Frontera and Gaucín; and the Pinsapo stand out: l The beauty of the white villages which dot the valley are enhanced by: l Fungi Information Centre in Júzcar (Spanish Fir) de las Escaleretas in Parauta l Railway Exhibition Centre at Arriate Railway Station - The Hundidero-Gato Underground System: A subterranean route, 4.5 km - The Igualeja Spring: Considered by many to be the source of the River - One Site of Community Importance (SCI): the Genal Valley (the villages l Equipping the Museum of Popular Arts and Brandy in Jubrique long, ideal for potholing under the supervision of a firm of specialists. Genal, it is a leafy enclave where the crystalline water bursts from within of Algatocín, Alpandeire, Atajate, Benadalid, Benalauría, Benarrabá, l Ethnography Museum in Benalauría Both the areas around the Hundidero and the Cueva del Gato (Cat Cave) the mountain and, after a winding journey, flows into the River Guadiaro Cartajima, Faraján, Gaucín, Genalguacil, Igualeja, Jubrique, Júzcar, l Cork Museum in Cortes de la Frontera are spots worth visiting. below Gaucín. l Chestnut Museum in Pujerra Parauta and Pujerra) - The Nature Reserve of the Reales de Sierra Bermeja: Located in the l Canyon Museum in Gaucín - Cueva de la Pileta: This cave is home to an important “collection” of l Whether from the natural or the cultural viewpoint the 21 villages that vicinity of Genalguacil and above Estepona, at 1,600 metres it provides l Embellishment of the irrigation channels in Montecorto cave paintings, significant among them the Yegua Preñada (Pregnant make up the Serranía de Ronda have something to offer the visitor. The an impressive panoramic view over the Costa del Sol and the Straits of l Improvements to the access to the Doce Pilares (Twelve Pillars) in Mare), which in the past symbolised woman’s fertility and which today is beauty of its streets and squares, strongly influenced by their Arab past, Gibraltar on one side; and over the whole of the Genal Valley on the Montecorto the symbol of the Serranía de Ronda.