Iglesia del Espiritu Santo (Church of the Holy Spirit), Ronda
The Church of the Holy Spirit, built between 1485 and 1505, stands as a testament to the city’s transition from Moorish to Christian rule. Constructed on the site of a former mosque, this church was commissioned by the Catholic Monarchs shortly after the city’s conquest.
Its design blends Gothic and Renaissance styles typical of the era, featuring a single nave divided into three aisles covered by ribbed vaults. The church was consecrated in honor of the Holy Spirit on Easter, marking the day Ronda was taken.
Notably, the church served both religious and defensive purposes, built with fortress-like strength to withstand local unrest after the reconquest. Its exterior is marked by a sturdy tower with large buttresses and Renaissance pinnacles. The façade is modest, framed by strong braces and topped with a triangular pediment that features a symbolic ox’s eye in its center.
Inside, visitors find a Baroque main altar with Rococo influences and chapels dedicated to the Virgin of Fátima and the Sacred Heart. The church also houses a revered sculpted “Holy Burial,” which is carried through Ronda’s streets on Good Friday, reflecting its enduring role in local religious traditions.
Its design blends Gothic and Renaissance styles typical of the era, featuring a single nave divided into three aisles covered by ribbed vaults. The church was consecrated in honor of the Holy Spirit on Easter, marking the day Ronda was taken.
Notably, the church served both religious and defensive purposes, built with fortress-like strength to withstand local unrest after the reconquest. Its exterior is marked by a sturdy tower with large buttresses and Renaissance pinnacles. The façade is modest, framed by strong braces and topped with a triangular pediment that features a symbolic ox’s eye in its center.
Inside, visitors find a Baroque main altar with Rococo influences and chapels dedicated to the Virgin of Fátima and the Sacred Heart. The church also houses a revered sculpted “Holy Burial,” which is carried through Ronda’s streets on Good Friday, reflecting its enduring role in local religious traditions.
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Iglesia del Espiritu Santo (Church of the Holy Spirit) on Map
Sight Name: Iglesia del Espiritu Santo (Church of the Holy Spirit)
Sight Location: Ronda, Spain (See walking tours in Ronda)
Sight Type: Religious
Sight Location: Ronda, Spain (See walking tours in Ronda)
Sight Type: Religious
Walking Tours in Ronda, Spain
Create Your Own Walk in Ronda
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Ronda Introduction Walking Tour
Imagine a city so dramatic it naturally inspired myth and empire-welcome to Ronda, where every cliff, gate, and square flaunts history. Before the Romans and Visigoths muscled in, Celtic tribes called this rocky promontory Arunda. The Phoenicians and Romans left their mark, but it was the Umayyads in 713 who gave us Rundah, which means the “Castle on the Cliff.” Next up, in 1485, and Rodrigo,... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.8 Km or 1.7 Miles
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.8 Km or 1.7 Miles