Ronda, Spain

There was an ancient settlement named Arunda on the site of modern Ronda in the prehistoric time. The early Celts were the first inhabitants in the area. During the Carthage period, local people were obliged to provide food to the army that was fighting with the Greeks and Romans at that moment. The Romans conquered the Iberian Peninsula in 197 AD. After that, Arunda entered a true period of prosperity. The settlement significantly grew in size and even started minting its coin. The fifth century AD was the period of numerous enemy invasions. The Suebi, Vandals, Alans, and Visigoths plundered Arunda and destroyed it. Two centuries later, the Moors captured this territory.

The new rulers decided to build a new town on the ruins. They called this settlement Hisn Ar-Rundah. The Castilian kings managed to drive the invaders out and liberate the town only in 1485. They changed the town’s name to Ronda. The town was gaining political importance starting from the 16th century. New districts were built in Ronda, and the town established business relations with other cities and countries. During the Napoleonic invasion in the early 19th century, the French troops led by Joseph Bonaparte entered Ronda in 1810. When the French were forced to leave, they burnt many buildings in the town.
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