Ronda, Spain

Situated in Malaga, a Spanish province, Ronda is an amazing city. Guadalevin River runs throught the city and forms the canyon upon which the city lies. Ronda is situated 750m above the sea level. The population of the city  is 35 000 inhabitants.

Ronda, Spain

image source: Flickr Bert K

The main curiosities are the three bridges - Puente Romano, Puente Viejo and Puente Nuevo. The beauty of Ronda is not a fresh news. Famous writers like Ernest Hemingway and Orson Welles spent time there and wrote about the amazing cliffside city of Ronda, Spain.

At first the city was called Arunda by the first settlers there, the Celts. Ronda la Vieja, Arunda or Old Ronda was the name the city received by the Phoenician settlers. Ronda as we see it now is of Roman origins, when it was a fortified post in the Second Punic War. Ronda became a city at the time of Julius Caesar.

Ronda, Spain

image source: Flickr, Ronnie McDonald

Ronda, Spain

Mandarin Oriental, Barcelona

Mandarin Oriental Hotel of Bacelona is located on Passeig de Gracia. Close to the hotel are many shopping and dining places, cultural and entertaining too. The design of this luxury hotel is result of the work of Spanish architects and designers: Carlos Ferrater, Joas Trias de Bes and Patricia Urquiola. The original building of the 20s used to serve as a bank.

Mandarin Oriental, Entrance, Barcelona

Mandarin Oriental, Barcelona

source: http://en.wikipedia.org

The Hotel also has the Spa at Mandarin Oriental as well as five restaurants and bars. Here is very important to metion the Moments - Catalan restaurant, operated by a Michelin starred chef. 

In the interior of Mandarin Oriental you can notice the clean lines, yet elegant and a hint of oriental minimalism.

Mandarin Oriental, the Blanc, Barcelona

The Hotel has on disposal besides the very impressive Moments restaurant, an all-day-working, Mediterranean Brasserie -The Blanc, also wonderfully landscaped courtyard - Mimosa Garden and also very  spectacular - Banker's Bar- a cocktail plage, the design is featured to the bank that once occupied the building.

Mandarin Oriental, Barcelona

Mandarin Oriental,Suite, Barcelona

Near the hotel can be found a great number of Barcelona's museums, parks and churches. The Mandarin Oriental is located in the shopping and entertaining district of Passeig de Gracia, where you can notice many attractions, such as the Gothic Quarter, Las Ramblas, and also Gaudi's Casa Mila / La Pedrera/ and Casa Batllo.

Mandarin Oriental, pool, Barcelona

Mandarin Oriental, Barcelona

Mandarin Oriental, Barcelona

Mandarin Oriental, great rooftop view to Barcelona

The best features of Mandarin Oriental of Barcelona are the great central location, the very good basis - the buildinf of a former bank, and of couse, last but not least - the work of the designer Patricia Urquiola.