Blogs - Secret Serranía de Ronda

23 Dec 2020

Fish for Christmas and no gifts?

Fish for Christmas dinner? No presents on Christmas Day? Grapes at midnight on New Year’s Eve? What is going on? Paul…

22 Dec 2020

Madita’s Lentil and Spinach Curry – Swabian-style

By Madita Schröder (aged 12) This recipe is courtesy of Rita’s oldest grand-daughter who lives in the Swabian village of…

21 Dec 2020

Days of (Ronda) Wine… and Roses

Where Paul Whitelock and his wife Rita live they are surrounded by vineyards. In fact out of the 21

19 Dec 2020

How to pay less tax in Spain – but you need to act fast!

If you act fast you can save a lot of money before the end of the year. The implementation of some basic tips will help you cut your personal income…

18 Dec 2020

Where can you get Christmas lunch in the Serranía de Ronda?

Christmas Day, 25 December, is not particularly important in Spain. The Spanish eat their main Spanish meal on Christmas Eve. And presents are…

17 Dec 2020

Wir sprechen Deutsch in Montejaque!

As I think back to my first ever Christmas in Spain, 12 years ago, I am reminded of a fascinating situation that arose back then. …

16 Dec 2020

More tree bashing in the south of Spain

Recently Paul Whitelock wrote about an important local crop that is harvested by hitting trees with sticks, namely

15 Dec 2020

Cauliflower cheese – Serranía Style

British cuisine has a terrible reputation amongst the Spanish. Paul Whitelock thinks this is unfair. There are a…

13 Dec 2020

Alcohol – ‘The cause of, and solution to, all of life’s little problems’?

Recently Paul Whitelock wrote about

13 Dec 2020

Zambomba

The zambomba is two things in Spain. It’s a musical instrument, but also a traditional Christmas “fiesta” of carols…

12 Dec 2020

Bottle openers, bodyguards and balaclavas

There is a common type of compound noun in Spanish which describes a person or a device that does something. Like a can opener, a corkscrew or a…

11 Dec 2020

BEST BAR NONE? Meet empresario Paul Darwent of Allioli

Paul Darwent is from the UK, with the emphasis on the word from, for he has lived most of his life outside of the country. He has spent all his…

10 Dec 2020

N.B. Nota(ry) bene

Most of us only go to the Notary when we buy or sell a house here in Spain. However, Paul Whitelock has discovered…

09 Dec 2020

From Germany to Spain… meet Secret Serranía contributor Rita Whitelock

Rita Whitelock has lived in Montejaque and Ronda since 2005. German-born…

07 Dec 2020

Rita’s Onion and Goat Cheese quiche

This simple recipe puts shop-bought quiches in the shade. Rita Whitelock prefers to cook good food rather than spend…

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Jun 2026

Gaucín municipal swimming pool opens for summer season

With the arrival of summer, the swimming season kicks off at Gaucín’s municipal pool. The doors open on Saturday 20 June from 12noon onwards. Admission will be free for all local residents during this first weekend.

Jun 2026

Benalauría municipal swimming pool opens for summer season

The municipal swimming pool in Benalauría will open its doors for the 2026 summer season on Saturday 20 June. The facilities are located in the Era Cabezas complex, a place with spectacular views of the surroundings where the municipal multi-sports court and El Cerro restaurant are also located. The swimming pool will be open to the public every day (except Tuesdays) from 1pm to 8pm and admission will be free for everyone between 20th and 30th of June.

Jun 2026

San Juan Pilgrimage 2026 in Algatocín

On the 26, 27 and 28 of June 2026, Algatocín will celebrate the Romería de San Juan, an event that in recent years has been promoted as a way to recover an old tradition, since in the past it was common for many people to travel to the vicinity of the Genal river to enjoy a day in the countryside with family and friends. The pilgrimage, organised by the Ayuntamiento de Algatocín town hall and Camping Genal, will take place in the Vega de la Curtida area. The programme of activities will begin on Friday at 6pm with motorcycle ribbon races, and a DJ will keep the party going until the early hours of the morning. On Saturday, the main day of the pilgrimage, a mass in honour of Saint John will be held at 9am in the Church of Our Lady of the Rosary. Following the mass, the cart carrying the image of the Saint will depart from the La Ereta area for Vega de la Curtida. It will be accompanied by numerous local residents who will walk or ride horses along the approximately seven-kilometre route to the celebration site. The Algatocín Town Hall has also announced that a […]

Jun 2026

Pilgrimage in Faraján

On Saturday 27 June 2026, the village of Faraján will once again celebrate its traditional pilgrimage in honour of the Virgin of the Rosary, an event that has been organised since 1999, with a festive day of camaraderie that all attendees can enjoy in a spectacular natural environment. The Ayuntamiento de Faraján Town Hall has announced that the pilgrims will begin their journey around 9.30am from the Plaza de Andalucía, accompanying the beautifully decorated oxcart carrying the image of Our Lady of the Rosary. They will all proceed downhill along the path that connects Faraján with the neighbouring village of Jubrique to the Vega Grande area, near the Genal river. Upon arrival at the pilgrimage site, which will happen just after midday, a bar will be set up and a communal lunch will be served. During the afternoon, live music will enliven the atmosphere and extend the festivities until sunset, when all attendees will return to the village. The Faraján pilgrimage is known for the large crowds it attracts, drawing both local residents and visitors from other towns and villages. The Ayuntamiento de Faraján town hall has extended an invitation to everyone who wishes to participate in this day of […]

Jun 2026

Anniversary of birth of Fray Leopoldo in Alpandeire

On Saturday 27 June 2026, the municipality of Alpandeire in the Serranía de Ronda will once again commemorate the birth of its most illustrious resident, Blessed Friar Leopoldo, who was born in this beautiful town in the Genal Valley on 24 June 1864, some 162 years ago. Fray Leopoldo Day has been celebrated in Alpandeire since 2011, with the participation of hundreds of residents and visitors who typically come to the village during the weekend of the celebration. The feast day of Friar Leopoldo will begin at 10.30 am in the Iglesia de San Antonio de Padua with a commemorative Mass. Following the Mass, shortly before noon, the eagerly awaited procession will commence, in which the image of the ‘beato’ will travel through the streets of his hometown on a beautifully decorated throne carried by men and women. It is worth noting that both the image of the friar and the throne were donated in 2010 by a local family after Friar Leopoldo’s beatification. Numerous people will accompany the procession along its route, which will pause at the Blessed’s birthplace and in the Plaza de Fray Leopoldo. At this location, a floral offering will be made at the sculpture. The […]

Jun 2026

‘Hecho por Ellas’ rural craft event in Atajate

Crafts, entrepreneurship and visibility for women from the mountains of the Serranía de Ronda On 27 June 2026, Atajate will host ‘Hecho por Ellas’ (Made by Them), a craft event created to highlight the work, talent and entrepreneurship of women artisans from the Serranía de Ronda area. This initiative, funded by the State Pact against Gender Violence and the Ministry of Equality, aims to highlight the fundamental role that women have historically played in artisanal trades, a task that for a long time has remained in the background despite its enormous contribution to the economic, cultural and social development of our towns and villages. ‘Hecho por Ellas’ will bring together several entrepreneurial women from the region who have turned crafts into their profession and way of life. Through different exhibition spaces distributed throughout the municipality, the participants will showcase their techniques, materials, and creations, allowing visitors to experience firsthand the value of traditional and contemporary crafts. Among the participating artisans we will find jewellery made with wire, creations made with esparto grass and other plant materials, artistic pieces made with resins and proposals based on natural elements and wrappings, among other initiatives that reflect the creativity and artisanal richness of […]

Jun 2026

Local Crazy Rockers perform at Allioli Bar y Más in Jimera de Líbar

Young, wild and ready to roll…

Jun 2026

Verbena de San Juan events, Cortes de la Frontera and Montecorto

As the summer solstice approaches, Spain is gearing up to celebrate La Noche de San Juan (St. John’s Eve) on 23 June. The annual midsummer party on the weekend coinciding with the shortest night of the year sees Spaniards honour the birth date of San Juan – John the Baptist in English – and many parts of the country have their own traditions based heavily on the purifying and cleansing elements of fire and water. In the Serranía de Ronda the event is often celebrated in with the construction of small bonfires in the main plaza or bull ring. The locals write their wishes on scraps of paper and toss them into the flames in the hope they come true. In coastal regions revellers tend to head for the beach, constructing hogueras, or bonfires, around which they eat, drink and dance before typically having a midnight ocean dip. Effigies representing Judas Escariot might also be thrown into the flames, while in some areas party-goes make wishes known as juras before leaping through the fire three times and heading for the sea to cleanse their sins for the year ahead.

Jul 2026

Festival Pueblo live music in Atajate

Typically held in late June or early July, this is a massive free summer music festival that takes place at the local swimming pool’s esplanade. The experience: A lively night of outdoor concerts featuring a mix of Andalusian pop, rock, rumba and flamenco acts. The vibe: It features live music and DJs that keep the party going from late in the evening until the sun comes up, all with free admission.

Jul 2026

Blues Music with Fernando Neris in Jimera de Líbar

Fernando Neris is an authentic Spanish Blues artist settled in Belgium since the year 2000. He is an acknowledged specialist in fingerpicking and lapsteel guitar, who has a deep knowledge of the old pre-war acoustic repertoire, giving as much importance to music as to the rich lyrics. His abundant discography includes collaborations with many Flemish and French-speaking artists, from blues-rock to jazz-blues, gospel and folk. Since 2009 Fernando preferably performs in solo format, not only in Belgium, but also in Spain and even in Japan. Fernando’s repertoire, filled with human and heartfelt stories, pays homage to great classic Blues artists such as Robert Johnson, Skip James, Blind Willie Johnson and Muddy Waters. As a songwriter, he has published dozens of songs that he performs sometimes as a songster, sometimes as a leader of other groups: The Hoodoogang, De Ferre Trio, Lucifer Mo’ Blues…

Jul 2026

Night trail race in the Genal valley

Two routes are available of 9 or 15 kilometres as the night mountain race celebrates its 10th anniversary. Registration open at www.dorsalchip.es/carrera/2026/7/18/Trail_Nocturno_Genalguacil.aspx

Jul 2026

Pueblos Blancos Music Festival 2026

One of the first cultural and musical events of its kind in Spain and in Europe! International bands and musicians stay in local villages, learn about the region and share their music with local musicians and music fans, through talks, workshops, excursions and concerts. This year it will offer four days of free concerts with over 25 great bands from around the world, including around 12 from Texas in the USA. They will take place in the ancient and spectacular Andalusian mountain settings of Ronda, Montejaque and Cortes de la Frontera, in southern Spain! Legendary international artists like Joe King Carrasco, mixed with great up-and-coming international bands, young indie-rock groups and local Spanish bands; playing free concerts every night, after-hours jam sessions with local and international musicians and shared activities with the performing musicians, local residents and visitors. Many of the bands come from Texas – many from Austin, the live music capital of the world. Thanks to the support of local councils, other local public institutions, sponsors and local musicians, the concerts and events are free so that all music fans can attend.

Nov 2026

All Saints’ Day

National holiday

May 2027

May Day

National holiday

Navigation

Category Archives: Blogs

Fish for Christmas and no gifts?

Madita’s Lentil and Spinach Curry – Swabian-style

Days of (Ronda) Wine… and Roses

How to pay less tax in Spain – but you need to act fast!

Where can you get Christmas lunch in the Serranía de Ronda?

Wir sprechen Deutsch in Montejaque!

More tree bashing in the south of Spain

Cauliflower cheese – Serranía Style

Alcohol – ‘The cause of, and solution to, all of life’s little problems’?

Zambomba

Bottle openers, bodyguards and balaclavas

BEST BAR NONE? Meet empresario Paul Darwent of Allioli

N.B. Nota(ry) bene

From Germany to Spain… meet Secret Serranía contributor Rita Whitelock

Rita’s Onion and Goat Cheese quiche

Gaucín municipal swimming pool opens for summer season

Benalauría municipal swimming pool opens for summer season

San Juan Pilgrimage 2026 in Algatocín

Pilgrimage in Faraján

Anniversary of birth of Fray Leopoldo in Alpandeire

‘Hecho por Ellas’ rural craft event in Atajate

Local Crazy Rockers perform at Allioli Bar y Más in Jimera de Líbar

Verbena de San Juan events, Cortes de la Frontera and Montecorto

Festival Pueblo live music in Atajate

Blues Music with Fernando Neris in Jimera de Líbar

Night trail race in the Genal valley

Pueblos Blancos Music Festival 2026

All Saints’ Day

May Day

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