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The original theater of Acinipo.

The archaeological site of Acinipo was a city created for retired soldiers from the Roman legions more than 2,000 years ago. It is located about 20 kilometers from Ronda, near Seville, Spain. The Acinipo ruins include a Roman theater still in use today. Acinipo is known locally as Ronda la Vieja, Arunda or Old Ronda. But Acinipo and Arunda (Ronda) are really separate towns of Roman origin^[1].

[edit] Connection Between Creation of Acinipo and the Battle of Munda.

Some historians assert that Acinipo was created after the battle of Munda (45 BC). Munda was the site of a first century BC clash between the armies of Julius Caesar and the army of Pompeius' two sons, Gnaeus & Sextus. To Caesar, Munda was supposed to be a mop-up action after Pompeius' main forces were defeated in Greece. But Munda was no mop-up exercise. Tens of thousands of Romans were killed on both sides; there was no decisive victory for Caesar's armies; and one of Pompeius' sons, Sextus, fled to fight another day as a famous rebel pirate against Caesar's successor, Augustus (Octavian).

[edit] Was Battle of Munda fought in Ronda, near Acinipo or in Osuna, in the province of Seville, about 50 km north of Ronda?

What remains a mystery is the exact location of Munda and its relationship to the creation of both Acinipo and modern day Ronda. Some Spanish historians assert Munda is the Roman name for Ronda, where the battle of Munda may have been fought (Rafeal Atienzas Huertas, 1857). Others assert Munda was fought in Osuna, about 50 km north of Ronda in the province of Seville (Pliny). Unfortunately, no archaeologist has definitively proved where Munda was fought. But there is general agreement that Acinipo was created for retired veterans of Caesar's legions. And Arunda (Ronda) was a separate Roman outpost, perhaps created before the Munda conflict for the veterans of Pompeius' legions.

Those visiting Ronda should consider a side visit to Acinipo to ponder its formation in Ronda history.

[edit] Opening Hours

Acinipo is free to visitors Tuesday to Saturday from 10 am to 5 pm. Open Sunday from 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Closed on Mondays.

[edit] How to Get to Acinipo

Leave Ronda in the direction of Seville. After 10 km and descending down to cross the river and the railway you will see a sign on the right for Acinipo and Ronda la Vieja. Take this small road (MA-7402) uphill for about 12 km.

Information about Acinipo, visiting and directions