Vuelta a España 2014 Stage 5 Details – the fifth stage of this year’s Vuelta is a 180 km flat stage from Priego de Córdoba to Ronda.
It will be a flat stage for the first 120 kilometers, after which it will have the peloton climbing two mountains that, although not excessively difficult, may well break the group up and avoid a mass sprint towards the city of Córdoba. The stage may be decided within a small peloton, although it will also be favorable for the brave who seek success by breaking away.
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Vuelta a España 2014 Stage 5 quick info
DATE August 27, 2014, Wednesday
STAGE TYPE Flat
START-FINISH Priego de Córdoba (610 m) – Ronda (720 m)
LENGTH OF THE COURSE 180 km
Vuelta a España 2014 Stage 5 Profile
Vuelta a España 2014 Stage 5 start town: Priego de Córdoba
Priego de Córdoba is a town and municipality of Andalucia Spain in the extreme southeastern portion of the province of Córdoba, near the headwater of the Guadajoz River, and on the northern slope of the Sierra de Priego.
The oldest church was built in the 13th century and subsequently restored; it has a fine chapel. There are ruins of an, originally Moorish, castle (currently (2006) under restoration) having been a fortified city of the Moors (with the Hispano-Arabic name Baguh) which was captured by the Christians under Ferdinand III in 1225, lost again in 1327, and finally retaken in 1340 by Alfonso XI.
Some of the best examples of the Spanish Baroque are found in the numerous churches in Priego. The first President of the Second Spanish Republic, Niceto Alcala-Zamora, was from Priego. Priego is a village found on the ‘Ruta de la Califata’ (trade route of the Caliphate).
The oldest section of Priego is its Barrio de la Villa. It is bordered on one side by the town’s natural fortress, a high cliff. The alleys that wind through this part of the town are Moorish in style, decorated proudly by the populace with flower pots and religious icons. Some homes retain the ancient tunnel system that went from their cellars (bodegas) to the castle.
Priego is a member of the Route of the Caliphate. It is called “City of the water” because of the many springs and “Jewel of the Baroque Native of Córdoba” for its multitude of Baroque-style constructions. It has been referred to as “the lock and key to the Kingdom of Granada”.
The local gastronomy stands out for its extra virgin olive oil with the appellation of origin “Priego de Cordoba”; its festivities that have been declared of National Touristic Interest (Holy Week and Sundays of May); and one of the most symbolic traditions, full of personality, headed by the Hermanos de la Aurora.
Vuelta a España 2014 Stage 5 finish town: Ronda
Ronda is a village in the Spanish province of Málaga. It is located about 105 km (65 mi) west of the city of Málaga, within the autonomous community of Andalusia. Its population is about 35,000 inhabitants.
Ronda is one of Spain’s most important tourist destinations and the third most visited city in Andalucia. This is due to the fact that the city has enormous historical, cultural and artistic wealth, forged by the passing centuries and the most important civilisations that left their mark in every corner.
It is also due to Ronda’s location, on the spot where three natural parks meet and in a mountain range characterised by its unparalleled environmental values.
Its gastronomy, its people and its varied range of tourist attractions make this destination a place truly worth visiting and returning to.
Main Sights
- Three bridges, Puente Romano (“Roman Bridge”, also known as the Puente San Miguel), Puente Viejo (“Old Bridge”, also known as the Puente Árabe or “Arab Bridge”), and Puente Nuevo (“New Bridge”), span the canyon. The term nuevo is something of a misnomer, as the building of this bridge commenced in 1751 and took until 1793 to complete. The Puente Nuevo is the tallest of the bridges, towering 120 m (390 ft) above the canyon floor, and all three serve as some of the city’s most impressive features. The former town hall, which stands next to the Puente Nuevo, is the site of a parador and has a view of the Tajo canyon.
- The ‘Corrida Goyesca’ is a unique and historical bullfight that takes place once a year in Ronda in the Plaza de toros de Ronda, the oldest bullfighting ring in Spain. It was built in 1784 in the Neoclassical style by the architect José Martin de Aldehuela, who also designed the Puente Nuevo.
- The partially intact Baños árabes (“Arab baths”) are found below the city and date back to the 13th and 14th centuries.
- Plaza del Socorro is the modern political center of Ronda. It was here that Blas Infante showed the Andalusian flag and coat of arms for the first time in 1918. The parish church of Socorro (Parroquia de Nuestra Señora del Socorro) was only built in 1956. The building known as the Casino and Circulo de Artistas (Artists’ Society) is located on the north side of Ronda’s Plaza del Socorro.
- The Palacio of the Marqués de Salvatierra opens irregularly as a small museum of Renaissance art and artifacts. The Palacio is an 18th-century renovation of an earlier 16th-century building gifted to the family of Don Vasco Martín de Salvatierra by the Catholic Monarchs when they redistributed the spoils of the Reconquest.
Sources
- La Vuelta official website
- Priego de Córdoba on Wikipedia
- Ronda on Wikipedia