Just twenty kilometres from the city of Ronda, sitting on a vast 920 metre high plateau, are the remains of one of the most powerful and influential cities of the ancient Betica. Acinipo, also known as Ronda “La Vieja” (The Old Ronda), is an important archaeological site that has brought to light many of the secrets and mysteries surrounding Hispania, the times when Rome dominated the West and Andalusia was the beginning and the end of the world.

Seemingly, life in this area was closely linked to that of its neighbour, Arunda (Ronda), built by Escipion. After the cruel war between Caesar and Pompey, it acquired the status of “Town”, therefore it could rule itself by its own laws and, among other many privileges, it minted its own coins. Acinipo was a part of that select group of large Roman cities: Malaka (Malaga), Antikaria (Antequera), Lacipo (Casares), Suel (Fuengirola) or Cilniana (Marbella). Vespasian even granted them “Latin Law”, on the same level as Seville and Cordoba.

The city must have been surrounded by a wall, it had its temple and its public buildings, as is shown by many different finds. At the entrance one can just see the foundation of some circular cabins that take us back to the Bronze Age, when the Iberians populated these mountains. The Roman remains are made up of immense blocks of ashlars, numerous piles of stones, inscriptions, capitals, coins... and he theatre. Its origin is not clear, although some studies lead to the conclusion that it may have been built around 60 to 50 b.C. It is sculpted in the same rock on which it rests and it had a capacity for 2,000 seated persons. The stage building (the rooms used by the actors), the enclosure for the musicians and the auditorium are outstanding. Without a doubt it is the best of its kind in Andalusia. Acinipo was razed by vandals in the year 429. In this grandiose stage that is History, these ruins played a small but important role. Today the wind is its public and the memory of the Roman Empire, its most popular interpretation.