Ronda, Spain. Complete guide to visiting Ronda, Andalucia, Spain
Ronda is located in southern Spain, in the province of Málaga, part of the Andalusian region. It sits on a high plateau in the middle of the Serranía de Ronda mountains, about 100 km from the city of Málaga. The town is built around a deep gorge, which gives it its dramatic landscape.
The main tourist attraction of Ronda is the world famous bridge called the Puente Neuvo – or new bridge – that is 120m high and spans 68m across El Tajo gorge which separates the Ronda’s 15th century new town from its old town dating back to Moorish rule.
It is called the new bridge because the original bridge collapsed in the late 1735s killing 50 people. The current bridge was completed in 1793.
It connects the old Moorish town with the newer parts of Ronda and offers amazing views over the surrounding countryside.
The bullring in Ronda, called Plaza de Toros, is one of the oldest in Spain. It was built in 1785 and has a seating capacity of around 5,000 people. The ring itself is slightly larger than most, with a diameter of 66 metres. It’s no longer used for regular bullfights but is open to visitors as a museum, with exhibits on the history of bullfighting and Ronda’s connection to it.
When you cross the bridge, follow the main road to the cathedral. The Cathedral of Ronda with one of the most beautiful bells towers in all of Spain which is in the town hall square.
The square is a nice place to enjoy a meal at one of the local restaurants.
Ronda is a very popular daytrip location as it is close to several bigger cities like Seville, Malaga, Cordoba and Granada. We did a daytrip that started in Nerja and picked up people at Malaga on the way.
There is a shady, cool park opposite the cathedral which is a nice place for a rest and people watching. If you are lucky you might get to listen to a local busker while you are there.
Everywhere you walk around Ronda you will find spectacular views. The landscape is beautiful, the ancient buildings incredible, especially the way they sit right on the edge of the gorge. Make sure to take you time to wander down different streets and you will be rewarded with these views.
This was our second time in Ronda and we thoroughly enjoyed our day trip. Even on our second visit we were blown away byt this ancient city. There had been quite a bit of rain before we arrived, so the surrounding countryside was lush and green.
