The Provincial Government allocates 811,000 euros to restore the 'Romantic Travelers' Route' through nine municipalities

The Provincial Council of Málaga is allocating 811,000 euros for "the execution of works to condition paths and trails to recover the Route of the 'Romantic Travelers', a route from Gibraltar to Ronda used by romantic travelers of the 19th century." In the provincial area, this route crosses nine municipalities along 58 kilometers from El Secadero (Casares) to Ronda.

According to the president of the Provincial Council of Málaga, Francisco Salado, in a statement, "this initiative will further enhance inland tourism in the province, which contributes to generating development and dynamism in our towns and, at the same time, also helps to stabilize the population in rural areas."

In this regard, he specified that "inland tourism in Málaga attracted 1.3 million tourists last year, growing by 13% compared to 2022." And it generated an economic impact of "1.4 billion euros, which enabled the creation of about 14,000 jobs," he added.

The works will be carried out in the municipal areas of Casares, Gaucín, Benarrabá, Algatocín, Benalauría, Benadalid, Atajate, Alpandeire, and Ronda, and are also of interest not only to hikers but also to cyclists and horse riders. "The aim is to highlight -he pointed out- a historical path with a wide tradition, to the extent that it was known as the English Way because it hosted foreign travelers on their journey from Gibraltar to Ronda and then into the interior of Andalusia."

Likewise, the president of the Provincial Council indicated that, in recent years, the provincial institution has worked to "promote this project together with the Association of Municipalities, Businesses, and Institutions of Campo de Gibraltar and the Serranía de Ronda of the Route of the Romantic Travelers (Aruviro)."

New Recreational Spaces

Moreover, with this project "a new recreational space will be created in the vicinity of the urban center of these municipalities, which will allow for the carrying out of healthy leisure activities compatible with both the environment and the use of adjacent roads, highways, or livestock trails," he emphasized.

In this sense, the Provincial Council has highlighted that "60% of the route's layout is currently passable, only lacking complete signage, so the work will focus on the sections that are not in condition, which add up to just over 22 kilometers."

The actions will start with cleaning and clearing work, later, the public paths of municipal ownership and the livestock trails that will be traveled will be conditioned, proceeding to the stabilization of slopes. Moreover, in the sections that run close to the edge of the roadway of a highway, a safety barrier made of steel and wood will be placed.

Aerial view of Algatocín, which is part of the Route. / L. O.

Thus, the Provincial Council has planned two points to locate a "horse resting area with wooden fencing), at the junction of the A-377 (Gaucín-Manilva) and the A-373 road, at Puerto del Espino.

Signage

Likewise, throughout the route, signage will be carried out with the placement of start signals, complementary and directional signs, as well as panoramic panels and beacons. The route will also be officially recognized by the Mountaineering Federation and is also contemplated to receive equestrian certification.

For the dissemination and publication of the trail, the Provincial Council has planned to create "a topographic guide to inform the user about the characteristics of the area and the services available in the municipalities and their surroundings, adding a significant part of historical dissemination following the writings of the romantic travelers."

Currently, there is a monument dedicated to the travelers of the 19th century, a monolith that marks the route --the provincial institution recalled-- it is a work by the Galician sculptor Ricardo Dávila, representing the famous engraving by Gustave Doré 'Smuggler and his girlfriend from Ronda on horseback' and is located on the road from Ronda to Algeciras."