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Ronda SpainA Gem in the Mountains!
The thousands of visitors sunning themselves on the beaches of the Costa del Sol, in the south of Spain, are mostly unaware of the amazing village which lies a short drive to the north. For those who do explore, it is a piece of delight well worth seeking out.
What is so special about Ronda?The first impact of Ronda on the visitor is visual ... it is absolutely stunning!Built on the top of a steep escarpment, surrounded by mountains and split by the gorge of the river Guadalevin, Ronda stands out against the blue Spanish sky like a tiara. Although the Romans first settled in Ronda, most of what we can see today in the town is from the Moorish times (1500ish).
What To SeeThe first port of call for most visitors and the most photographed part of Ronda Spain is probably the "Puente Nuevo" (New Bridge).
But don’t be misled by the name ... it was “new” in 1793 when it was completed!To say that the Puente Nuevo is dramatic is a serious understatement! It straddles “El Tajo” which is an immensely deep gorge and links two limestone escarpments with buildings perched at the side of it that look as if they are about to topple over the edge! There are 2 other bridges that span the canyon, the “Puente Romano“ (Roman bridge) that was built in 1616 and is now only a pedestrian bridge, and the "Puente Viejo" (Old Bridge). One of the buildings at the edge of the Puente Nuevo is the Parador of Ronda, a beautiful hotel with incredible views. It is an ideal introduction to the drama and a great place to stay whilst exploring Ronda. It is one of many places to stay ... there is a choice of about 25 hotels Ronda Spain. The gorge also separates the town of Ronda in two ... the new town and the old Muslim town, called “La Ciudad”, which offers a variety of places of interest. La Cuidad is built in a traditional medieval Moorish fashion of narrow street and white buildings ... and just oozes history ... so it’s well worth a stroll around the winding streets. The "Palacio de Mondragon" is well worth a visit. It is a small but beautiful palace built in 1314 and one of its courtyards, Patio Mudejar, which retains much of its Moorish features. More recent structures (some as recent as 1700!) include various churches, the most important being the "Iglesia del Espiritu Santo" (Church of the Holy Spirit), Ronda, Spain’s unofficial cathedral.
The Ronda BullringSooner or later (often sooner) all visitors reach the "Plaza de Toros" , the Ronda Bullring.Even by Spanish standards, this is a magnificent building. Completed in 1784, it is one of the oldest in Spain and one of the most beautiful. Nowadays, it is preserved and only used once a year for a special bullfight “corrida”. For the rest of the year, visitors can walk round the bullring itself, the stables and some backstage areas and study the history of bullfighting in the special museum. A day trip from the coast will give visitors a good taste of Ronda, but to really explore in depth allow a couple of days stay here. Then you will be able to complete your day with the sight of the gorge, the houses, the bridges all floodlit. Then Ronda Spain turns from a tiara into a crown of light.
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