Ronda

Ronda

Ronda is a dramatic Andalusian cliff-top town in southern Spain, split in two by the El Tajo gorge, whose 98-metre sheer walls and the 18th-century Puente Nuevo bridge have made it one of the most photographed landscapes in Europe.

History

Ronda’s strategic hilltop position attracted continuous settlement from Celts and Romans to the Moors, who ruled for over 700 years and left behind the Arab Baths and the city walls. Christian forces reconquered the city in 1485. In the 18th century, Ronda became one of Spain’s most important centres of bullfighting: the Real Maestranza bullring, built in 1785, is one of the oldest in Spain. The city’s wild landscape drew Romantic travellers, inspiring writers including Ernest Hemingway and Rainer Maria Rilke.

What to See

The Puente Nuevo bridge (1793) spans the gorge with three arches and contains a small exhibition room that once served as a prison. The Real Maestranza bullring and its museum trace the history of the corrida in one of its birthplaces. The Arab Baths date from the 13th century and are among the best preserved in Spain. The old Moorish quarter, La Ciudad, preserves Renaissance palaces and the Collegiate Church of Santa Maria la Mayor.

Getting There

Ronda is in the province of Malaga, Andalusia. Direct trains from Malaga city take about two hours; buses connect from Malaga, Seville, and Granada. The nearest airports are Malaga-Costa del Sol (100 km) and Gibraltar (70 km).

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