There is no shortage of wonderful towns throughout all of Spain, from the large cities of Madrid and Barcelona to the many seaside resorts that dot the long coast of the country, including countless picturesque villages in the hills and mountains. Among these, the most unique is a town called Ronda, located in southern Spain in the Province of Málaga, which is part of the autonomous community of Andalusia.
Located among the Sierra de las Nieves mountain range, Ronda is perched on top of a cliff and cut in two by a deep gorge crossed by the Guadalevín river, which also forms a waterfall in the canyon. An impressive bridge spans the gorge, creating a really unique sight. Thanks to its impressive position, Ronda also offers a breathtaking view on the countryside of Andalusia.
Best times to visit Ronda and how to get there
While Ronda is less visited by tourists than other cities in the region, its popularity has increased over the past few years, and it is quickly becoming one of the main destinations in the area, especially as a day trip. So, the town becomes really busy especially in summer, when the temperatures can be really high. However, due to its altitude, Ronda is less hot than other cities in Andalusia. Meanwhile, during winter rain is abundant. Late spring and early autumn are the best times to visit Ronda.
Ronda can be reached by train, with direct connections to Algeciras. Arriving by train from Madrid, Málaga, Seville, Córdoba, or Granada is also possible, but it requires changing at the Antequera-Santa Ana station.
If you are traveling by car, driving to Ronda takes about one hour from Marbella and the Costa del Sol, one hour and a half from Málaga, and around two hours or two hours and a half from Seville, Córdoba, or Granada. There are also various bus services that link Ronda to all the surrounding towns.
Position of Ronda in Andalusia (edited from a work by Tschubby, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0).
History of Ronda
The town was first settled in prehistoric times by the Celts, while the current city was founded by the Romans. During the Islamic domination in the Middle Ages, Ronda was an important regional center and briefly became the seat of a small independent kingdom. Ronda was captured by the Castillian troops in 1485, and most of the medieval Islamic architecture was reworked and renewed. After the end of the Reconquista, Muslims were forced to either convert to Christianity or leave Spain, but many stayed and practiced their religion secretly. In 1566 the Arabic language was banned, leading to various rebellions including one in Ronda, which was defeated by the Spanish army.
Ronda later remained an agricultural center, and saw the construction of some of its most iconic landmarks such as the Ponte Nuevo and the Plaza de Toros in the 18th century. The town suffered heavy damages during the Peninsular War of the early 19th century and the Spanish Civil War in the 1930s, and only recently developed as a tourist destination.
View of the countryside of Andalusia from the Alameda del Tajo park in Ronda.
What to see and do in Ronda
Starting from the train station, you can reach the edge of the cliff of Ronda with a 20-minute walk, arriving at the Alameda del Tajo park. This area features a long cliffside pathway which offers some breathtaking views of the Andalusian countryside, with various panoramic spots. The most impressive of these is called Mirador de Ronda, and features a small kiosk.
Just outside the park near the Mirador de Ronda you can find the Plaza de Toros, the historic bullring of the city. Erected in the late 18th century, this is one of the oldest and most important bullrings in Spain, and it is regarded as the birthplace of modern Spanish bullfighting. The bullring also features a small museum.
The Mirador de Ronda panoramic spot along the cliffside of Ronda.
Plaza del Socorro, one of the main squares of Ronda, is located nearby and it hosts the Church of Nuestra Señora del Socorro. Meanwhile, the Carretera Espinel is the main shopping street of the city, and starts from Plaza de Toros, touching the southern tip of Plaza del Socorro, and crossing the entire new town of Ronda. South of the Plaza de Toros is another square, Plaza de España, which is linked with the main attraction of Ronda, the impressive Puente Nuevo (“New Bridge”).
This bridge, built between 1759 and 1793, spans the deep chasm that cuts Ronda in two, connecting the older part of the city to the more modern one. Standing at around 120 meters above the gorge, Puente Nuevo was for decades the tallest bridge in the world. Puente Nuevo also features an internal chamber housing a museum.
View of the Puente Nuevo of Ronda, looking toward the old town.
After crossing the Puente Nuevo you are in the old town of Ronda, which features many narrow alleys and various historic buildings. This area also offers great views on the surrounding countryside, especially from the viewpoint of Plaza de María Auxiliadora. A footpath starting here runs along the cliffside leading down to another panoramic spot, known as Mirador Puente Nuevo de Ronda, with a spectacular view on Puente Nuevo and all of Ronda. From this spot you can see the entire bridge and the gorge that cuts through Ronda, and the waterfall formed by the Guadalevín river at the bottom of the canyon. This is the most popular viewpoint of Ronda and the most iconic sight in the city.
The Puente Nuevo of Ronda and the waterfall at the bottom of the gorge, seen from the Mirador Puente Nuevo de Ronda panoramic spot.
Back in the old town, you can find some museums such as the art collections of the Lara Museum (Museo Lara) and the Unicaja Joaquín Peinado Museum (Museo Unicaja Joaquín Peinado). Another interesting museum here is the Museum of Bandits (Museo Bandolero), dedicated to the history of bandits around Ronda, located near the city’s Town Hall (Ayuntamiento).
Next to the Town Hall is the main church of Ronda, the Church of Santa Maria la Mayor. This church was erected on the site of a previous mosque and still features a few elements from the original building. Walking from this church toward the western cliff, you can see the Palacio de Mondragón, a decorated Moorish palace now hosting a museum on the history of Ronda.
The Church of Santa Maria la Mayor in the old town of Ronda.
Walking south from the Town Hall, you can visit the Church of the Holy Spirit and go down the road to reach the massive Puerta de Almocábar, the historic Moorish city gate of Ronda. After going back up toward the old town, you can walk along the ancient walls on the eastern cliffside, which offers some more great views on the surrounding region.
The path along the walls leads back to the ravine, and ends with the Arch of Philip V and the Puente Viejo (“Old Bridge”), which served as access to the city before the construction of the Puente Nuevo. Another older bridge is located nearby, the Puente Romano (“Roman Bridge”) or Puente Arabe (“Arabic Bridge”), originally erected by the Romans and later reworked during the Islamic period. The archaeological area of the Baños Árabes (“Arab Baths”) is located near the Puente Romano, and features some of the best preserved ruins of Arab baths in Spain.
The Puente Viejo of Ronda.
Throughout all of Ronda there are numerous shops and restaurants selling local food, just be careful of expensive tourist traps and look for places frequented by the locals. Various hiking paths start from Ronda and run along the beautiful hills and mountains that surround the town, in a region known as Serranía de Ronda.