The city of Ronda is situated less than an hour and a half away (90km) from our Finca. Ronda is one of the most beautiful cities in Andalusia. Ronda is located in a mountainous area and lies at an altitude of 750 meters. The city is split in two by the river Guadalevín, which has left a deep gorge. This deep gorge, the Tajo de Ronda, is what made Ronda famous.
New bridge
In Ronda there are three bridges over the El Tago Gorge: The Puente Romano, the Puente Viejo (“old bridge”) and the most famous, the Puente Nuevo (“new bridge”). This impressive bridge of 120 meters in height was built in 1751 and it took 42 years to build the bridge that is now Ronda’s landmark. The new bridge connects the old (Moorish) center with the newer El Mercadillo.
Tip: The former town hall, which stands next to the Puente Nuevo, is the beautiful location of a parador with views of the Tajo Gorge
El Tago de Ronda (Gorge)
El Tago is the gorge that splits Ronda in two, created by the river Guadalevín. The entire gorge is about 50 meters long and on average 100 meters deep. A nice and long walk to see the canyon with the new bridge is by the ‘Carretera de los Molinos’ down into the valley. A popular place to take pictures of Ronda.
Old town
The best way to experience the city is simply to walk through the narrow winding streets and nice squares of Ronda, interspersed with the occasional magnificent panorama. Some places of interest in the old part: Palacio de Salvatierra, Arco de Felipe V, Murallas de la Cijara, Puente Arabe, the Banos Arabes and the Minaret San Sebastian.
Baños Arabes
These Arab baths date back to the period of the Moroccan Almohad dynasty (around the 13th century). The Arab baths are considered one of the best preserved bathhouses in Spain. For a few euros you can visit the remains including an informative movie (Calle San Miguel, Barrio de Padre Jesús)
View at Alameda Del Tajo
This is the best viewpoint over the landscape around Ronda Spain. From this point you look miles away over the vineyards, the immense valley and the surrounding mountains. The park with the ‘Alameda del Tajo’ is located near the bullfighting ring.
Casa Del Rey Moro – descending into the mine
Although the name suggests otherwise, this was never the ‘House of the Moorish King’. The house was not built until the 18th century. It has a beautiful Moorish-style garden, but the main reason to visit the Casa del Rey Moro is the water mine; a staircase is carved into the rock to get down to the river. On your visit, you may descend the staircase of this water mine yourself.
Setenil de las Bodegas (17 km)
Andalusia is known for its many small white villages. One of the most beautiful white villages is Setenil de las Bodegas, which is only 17 kilometers north of Ronda. What makes this village extra beautiful are the houses that are partly built into the rocks. Definitely a nice detour if you have any time left after your visit to Ronda.
A visit to one of the many wineries
The area around Ronda is an emerging wine region with more than twenty wineries in the area. Most of them are family run businesses that also open their doors to the public to view the winery and of course taste the wines. The Bodega Garcia Hidalgo, Bodega Dona Felisa, the Joaquin Fernandez Bodega and Bodega Descalzos Viejos in a converted monastery are the most popular bodegas to visit. It is often necessary to make reservations in advance.
Plaza de Toros
The bullring in Ronda is unique because it is the oldest bullring made of stone that’s still standing in Spain. The arena for 5000 people was built between 1779 and 1785 (by the architect of the Puente Nuevo). Nowadays, only a few bullfights are organized each year during the festival week in September. The rest of the year you can visit the neoclassical Plaza de Toros as a museum (‘Museo Taurino’) to learn more about bullfighting and for example the famous torero Pedro Romero who was born in Ronda.
La Alquería
Camino las barrancas 161
29130 Alhaurín de la Torre
Málaga
Spanje
