Historic Bridge, Lookout, Valley

It’s easy to expect too much from a famous landmark. At the Puente Nuevo, I had the opposite problem: the photos I’d seen before my trip didn’t show just how big the bridge is. It was only when I was there that I realised just how incredibly imposing it looks and how naturally it blends in with the rocks of the El Tajo gorge. Puente Nuevo is certainly not an overhyped tourist stop. In my opinion, it’s really worth making the trip to Ronda just…

Stadium

The Plaza de Toros de Ronda is an 18th-century bullring and one of the oldest surviving bullrings in Spain. It opened in 1785 and its circular sandpit measures 60 metres in diameter. From the street, the building appears rather unassuming. It is only once you step onto the sand that you realise its true scale and see the two storeys of stone arcades surrounding the stands. In my opinion, it’s a great and interesting stop that doesn’t take much…

Valley, Hiking trail

El Tajo is a rocky gorge over 100 metres deep, carved out by the River Guadalevín right through the centre of Ronda. It separates the historic district of La Ciudad from the newer part of the town, and the famous Puente Nuevo spans its narrowest point. The bridge is a symbol of Ronda, but it is the surrounding landscape that gives it its true power. At the time of my visit, the entire passage through the gorge had not yet been completed. I…

Lookout

Mirador de Ronda, also known as La Sevillana, is a small balcony jutting out over the western edge of the El Tajo gorge. It stands near the bullring and offers a sweeping view across the Guadalevín river valley to the mountains surrounding Ronda. You will also often come across the colloquial name Balcón del Coño. [btn "Book a hotel in Ronda" https://www.booking.com/city/es/ronda.en.html?aid=2380460;label=p-ronda-sevillana] According to local…

Historic Bridge

Puente Viejo is a single-arch stone bridge spanning the River Guadalevín at the base of the El Tajo Gorge. It rises to a height of 31 metres above the river’s surface. It isn’t as imposing as the Puente Nuevo, but I particularly liked its surroundings. The bridge lies amongst the rocks, ancient city walls and white houses. The whole place feels much more peaceful than the most visited part of Ronda. In my view, the Puente Viejo is best…

Square, Church

Plaza del Socorro is one of the main squares in the centre of Ronda. Don’t expect a dramatic view like the one from the Puente Nuevo. It is, above all, a lively town square with restaurants, cafés and several interesting buildings. I’d set aside about 10 minutes for the tour itself. You’ll spend much longer there if you sit down at one of the outdoor cafés. The square has the best atmosphere in the evening, whilst the morning is better for…

Garden, Lookout

The Jardines de Cuenca are terraced gardens set directly into the rock face of the El Tajo gorge between Puente Nuevo and Puente Viejo. In my view, they are more interesting as a scenic walk than as a traditional garden – as you descend or ascend, the view of the rocks, bridges and houses standing on the opposite edge of the gorge is constantly changing. The gardens are named after the Spanish city of Cuenca, with which Ronda formed a twinning…

Church

The Iglesia de Santa María la Mayor is the most important church in the historic centre of Ronda. It stands in the Plaza Duquesa de Parcent, on the site of the former main mosque, and its current appearance combines Gothic, Renaissance and Baroque styles. I popped inside whilst strolling through the old town. In my view, that’s how a visit works best – not as the main destination of the day, but as a short stop between the Puente Nuevo, the…