Ronda's Flea-Market Economy

Outdoor flea markets are a big part of Ronda's pueblo economy.

They are hubs for bargains, bartering and social gathering. In most cases, there is a not a tourist in sight. And it's a part of the Ronda life that many travelers don't see.

The largest open-stall market takes place every Sunday, near Ronda's Supersol grocery at the city fairgrounds. About 60-80 open-air vendors sell locally sourced vegetables, fruits, cured olives, and roasted nuts. One day, I watched one grower run cured olives through a machine that automatically removed olive stones ... with mixed results, I discovered later.

You can also find a wide assortment of Andalusian-prepared snack foods and candy for kids. Several candy stalls have over-the-top displays. We observed many Spanish parents make a bee-line for candy stalls first. This gives them some lee-way to do the rest their shopping, with happy kids in tow. Ronda's flea market is a choice for bargain hunters. You can buy knock-off designer goods, quality bed linens, cheap electronics, hand-made jewelry, knock-off sun-glasses, tools, leather goods, woodwork, and pots and pans.

Occasionally, you'll find livestock and pets for sale. Mostly baby chicks and puppies. But over 12 years, I've seen goats, lambs, calves, horses,and donkeys sold at the Sunday flea market. In the spring and early summer, you'll find wild 'song birds' in for sale. It's a questionable practice to environmentalists. Many Rondenos keep a wide assortment of birds in cages. Many of the birds sold are not commercially raised. They are migratory wild birds, caught in nearby Genal Valley.

The first Sunday of every month there is an arts & crafts market in Ronda's old town in the Plaza of Duquesa de Parcent near city hall. At one time, this was the largest open-air market in Ronda. Market garden growers from Tajo valley and beyond would sell their fresh produce and other goods to Ronda city residents. But despite some recent city efforts to promote this market, I get the feeling this market has been eclipsed boy others. That's too bad. In the spring and summer, a third flea market in Ronda will sometimes pop-up every other Sunday at the large square in the barrio of San Francisco. This market sells mostly used goods on card tables and mats, along with beverages, snack foods, candies.

Hotels also are embracing flea-market economy. Mostly to promote local artisans. The Hotel Molino del Puente, a world-wise hotel and restaurant just outside of Ronda, has an artisan market the last Sunday of every month. At this market, you can buy handmade goods at very reasonable prices. Everything from knitted scarves, hand-made rugs, and jewelry to high-quality breads , hard-to-find Mediterranean spices, and a hit-or-miss collection of used english-language books ... more fiction than non-fiction ... mostly crime, mystery and romance novels.

The Hotel Banu Rabbah in Benarrabá has a local gallery for area artists and photographers. On weekends, the hotel's gallery doubles as a public space for painting classes by artists Marion and Onno Henke. These classes are for students at all levels. And they are quite popular with expats. Students reportedly come from U.K. and the U.S.

Outside of Ronda, there are notable outdoor markets in nearby Grazalema, El Gastor, and Setenil as well in the Genal Valley towns of Farajan and Juzcar. In the Guadiaro Valley towns of Genalguacil, Jimera de Libar and Ubrique, you also can find quality artisan market on weekends at very reasonable prices. For details , check out the local city websites posted on Inside Ronda.

Photo Credit: Andalucian Rugs in Genal Valley.