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Troy Nahumko is an award-winning author based in Caceres, Spain. His recent work focuses on travels around the Mediterranean, from Tangier to Istanbul. As a writer and photographer he has contributed to newspapers and media such as Lonely Planet, The Globe and Mail, The Sydney Morning Herald, The Toronto Star, Couterpunch,The Irish World, The Straits Times, The Calgary Herald, Khaleej Times, DW-World, Rabble and El Pais. He also writes a bi-weekly op-ed column 'Camino a Ítaca' for the Spanish newspaper HOY. His book, Stories Left in Stone, Trails and Traces in Cáceres, Spain is published by the University of Alberta Press. As an ESL materials writer he has worked with publishers such as Macmillan and CUP.

Monday, October 10, 2016

Ibn Battuta meets Ronda


Way back in 1350, Ibn Battutah noted that Ronda was one of "the strongest and best sited fortresses" in all Andalusia and even today attacking it would be a bad idea. Neatly tucked behind the Sierra de las Nieves, this rocky outcrop has been a favored place to hang your hat since long before the Romans invaded the peninsula. Come late in the afternoon, or better yet, stay the night and wait until the army of tour buses wind their way over the Puerto del Madroño and down the Dramamine-popping highway back to the coast. After the daytrippers have gone home, the locals come out from behind their souvenir counters to play and turn this back into an Andalusian village. This particular reconquista is one the medieval Muslim traveler wouldn't have minded at all.

#history #smalltown #mountains #getaway #medieval #muslim #muslimarchitecture #fortress #daytrip #walledcity #geologicalanomaly #14thcentury #onthebeatenpath #citywalls #medievaltown #walls #fortification #alandalus #muslimspain #ibnbattutah #reconquest

Originally published on Trazzler

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