Santa Maria Major, Ronda

John Taylor Arms

The Church de Santa María de la Encarnación la Mayor, in Ronda, Spain, was originally built as a Muslim Mosque in the 14th century. The church was built in the years following Ferdinand and Isabella’s Christian conquest of 1485 and completed in the 17th century. An earthquake in 1850 destroyed much of the original church. The exterior of the restored church, located in the center of the Plaza Duquesa de Pargent in the middle of town, has been described as appearing more like a town hall than a church. The splendid interior of the church is a stunning tribute to man’s faith, skills, and achievements. The church still retains an arch that was part of the prayer niche that indicates the direction of Mecca.