Monda Pueblo with the castle rising above

The old fountain of Monda. The water runs all the time. It comes directly from an underground Spring. You still see women washing their clothes there

Carina's Restaurant. You can get a tapas and a beer for only 1 Euro

Monda Pueblo

Monda is a typical Spanish Pueblo/Village situated in the mountains in the middle of a Nature Reserve and probably one of the safest places to be on this planet. The streets between the old white houses are narrow, curved and more designed for humans and donkeys than cars. The facades of the houses are typically overflowing with flowerpots full of blooming pelargonias hanging from the walls or the small balconies.

Monda has several small squares. The Church Square is the main square dominated by the old church since 1505. The square, surrounded by orange trees, is the central point for all activities in the town. It is where people meet and It is always a nice place to visit. The square has 2 restaurants, one a very good Spanish restaurant / bar owned and run by Francisco. Here you can get an excellent meal for a small amount of money. The other restaurant is the meeting point for many people and very popular because of its lovely Andalucian designed interior. The owner is Miguel who also plays an active part in his restaurant. Further down the road you will find the Town Hall restaurant. The manager, who has the restaurant rent free from the Town Hall, promises in return, to keep prices low and low they are. Low prices ensure that the restaurant is always full. The restaurant is open all day till 23.00.

Monda is a lively and very real Spanish Pueblo. Life goes on as it has done for centuries, except when it comes to the nightlife. Monda has several discotheques, bars and restaurants. Lots of fun in a safe environment.

The landscape and scenery is always inspiring and never boring. You have entire life cycles taking place in front of you. Small kids playing, senoritas gossiping at their front doors or shouting from their blooming balconies. The local businessmen have important meetings alongside the good old boys of the pueblo having their daily dominos game over a "Fino". You still see old farmers crossing the square with their loaded donkeys on their way to their olive and orange groves. Tractors are hard to find in Monda. The surrounding fields are cultivated as they have always been. Hard work for most and a little easier for those who have a mule and a plough. Monda has 15 bars, restaurants and discos, but not any polluting industries. The oldest oil mill is in the centre of town and is 200 years old. An amazing place to visit, the olive mill is powered by a steam machine heated by burning wood from old olive trees. The huge cone shaped granite stone that presses the olives for their juice is the same one that must have been used for generations. The farmers still come in from the countryside to sell their olives to the mill. They transport their olives in big canvas sacks, loaded on exhausted donkeys. A sack of about 50 to 60 kg gives them an income of 36 Euros.

The goat’s cheese produced at the old factory in Monda is very famous and eaten fresh on toasted bread with honey. It is the best meal in the world. The goats walk around in the mountains in huge numbers with bells around their necks followed by the goatherd and his dog.

Monda also has an old Roman Castle situated high above town. Julius Caesar had a battle here with Pompey The Great, the battle of Monda - 45 BC. The ruins are hard to find today because they are surrounded by the very nice hotel, built in mountain rocks. From here you can overlook the entire town and the countryside with the natural forest which covers a huge area all the way to Ronda 60 km away. In the background you can see the Mediterranean Sea outside Malaga and the snow covered top of Sierra Nevada, a popular ski resort only 2 hours drive away.

The countryside around Monda is stunning and you become amazed that you are only 15 minutes away from hectic Marbella. It is so peaceful and beautiful.

Monda also offers interesting activities. You can go horse riding from Susan's stables. Susan is a nice English lady who has had her stables in Monda for many years. An hour or two on horseback around the mountains can really make you forget everything. When you pass Susan's stables and go a bit further on, you find Marbella Gun and Country Club, The clubhouse and restaurant is placed on a mountain top with a massive view. The owners are English. You can come here to enjoy the view, a nice meal or be more active by renting a 4 wheel mountain motor bike, go clay pigeon shooting or take a swim in the pool. The Gun Club covers an area of 22,000 hectares. On Sundays it is very expensive to eat up there, maybe to ensure the visitors only are the Marbella Jet Set. Outside Sundays you can get an excellent Club Sandwich for a small amount.

From the 1st of August 2008 the Marbella Design Academy will be located in Monda. On a beautiful plot only 2 minutes walk from the centre of Monda. Only 150 metres from the main road and 15 minutes drive from Marbella. See more news by clicking the "News" link button.

Do you want to read more about Monda and the surrounding area? Then take a look at this web site:
www.sierranieves.com

Monda Ayuntamiento (Town Hall)
www.villademonda.com (Website In Spanish)

All the houses are white in Monda, with a single colour giving a lift to all the whiteness

A blooming entrance to a typically white Monda house

The Plaza Constitucion (Church Square) is full of activities all day long. In summer all night long as well

The Monda area is an almond and olive district with many Aloe Vera Cacti around

The Plaza Constitucion with the old church from 1505. You can see an old man crossing with his donkey

		There is plenty of fresh water coming directly from the ground. People are driving from Marbella to collect it because it is so good. Here you can see a fountain built above a spring
The Town Hall in Monda. "Ayuntamiento"

This beautiful lake in El Chorro is only 30 mins away from Monda. There are several, and you can rent a pedalo or go swimming in the clean water.

Flamenco dance is existential for every Spanish female from 2 years old to over 80. When it is Fiesta in town everybody dances with each other in the plaza, night and day for a whole week.

You can go horse riding from Susan's stables. An excellent way to explore the countryside in peace.

Horses, lake and sunset. A beautiful view.

One hour away from Monda, you have Tarifa. An international small surfer town. People come from all over Europe to surf from Tarifa or to spend the day swimming in the nice, clean and salty Atlantic Ocean.

A small bridge in El Chorro crossing the river canyon. The bridge is made for hiking people who do not suffer of fear of heights!