Monda is a town and municipality in the province of Málaga, part of the

autonomous community eu, autonomia erkidegoa ca, comunitat autònoma gl, comunidade autónoma oc, comunautat autonòma an, comunidat autonoma ast, comunidá autónoma , alt_name = , map = , category = Autonomous administra ...

Andalusia Andalusia (, ; es, Andalucía ) is the southernmost autonomous community in Peninsular Spain. It is the most populous and the second-largest autonomous community in the country. It is officially recognised as a "historical nationality". The t ...

in southern

Spain , image_flag = Bandera de España.svg , image_coat = Escudo de España (mazonado).svg , national_motto = ''Plus ultra'' (Latin)(English: "Further Beyond") , national_anthem = (English: "Royal March") , i ...

. It is located near Sierra Blanca and

Sierra de las Nieves Sierra de las Nieves is a mountain range of the Penibaetic System in Málaga Province, Andalusia, Spain with its highest point being La Torrecilla (1,919 m) Sierra de las Nieves is also the name of an administrative area, the ''comarca''. The S ...

in the

comarca A ''comarca'' (, or , or ) is a traditional region or local administrative division found in Portugal, Spain and some of their former colonies, like Brazil, Nicaragua, and Panama. The term is derived from the term ''marca'', meaning a "march, ...

of Sierra de las Nieves. The municipality is situated approximately 44 kilometres from the provincial capital of Málaga and 10 from

Coín Coín () is a town and municipality in the Province of Málaga, Spain, c. 33 km west of the provincial capital, Málaga, and about 30 km north of Marbella. The town has an official population of 22,000 inhabitants. Foreigners now make ...

. Monda has an altitude of 427 metres. It has a population of approximately 2,000 residents. The natives are called Mondeños. Monda also has its own Castle (Castillo de Monda) that has been built on the foundations of "Al-Mundat" an Arab fortress from the 9th century. One of the original towers is still visible, as are parts of the foundations, which can be found throughout the interior. The castle is now a hotel. The town of Monda has a central village square called "Plaza de la Ermita". ''Lavadero de la Jaula'' is the town fountain and roofed ''lavadero'' (public laundry area), once a focus for social exchange, which dates from the 16th century. Marbella Design Academy is based in Monda. There's a local belief that the final battle between the armies of Julius Caesar and the supporters of

Pompey Gnaeus Pompeius Magnus (; 29 September 106 BC – 28 September 48 BC), known in English as Pompey or Pompey the Great, was a leading Roman general and statesman. He played a significant role in the transformation of ...

took place in the area. This was the

Battle of Munda The Battle of Munda (17 March 45 BC), in southern Hispania Ulterior, was the final battle of Caesar's civil war against the leaders of the Optimates. With the military victory at Munda and the deaths of Titus Labienus and Gnaeus Pompeius (elde ...

and while it is known that

Julius Caesar Gaius Julius Caesar (; ; 12 July 100 BC – 15 March 44 BC), was a Roman general and statesman. A member of the First Triumvirate, Caesar led the Roman armies in the Gallic Wars before defeating his political rival Pompey in a civil war, ...

did visit the Costa del Sol, it is unlikely that this battle was actually fought in Monda. ''El Molino de Monda'' (Monda Mill) is an old mill that still makes local olive oil.

References

Municipalities in the Province of Málaga {{Andalusia-geo-stub