Ronda in Spain attractions and the best things to do and see

Ronda in Spain, according to Hemingway, the most beautiful city in the world. It is located not far from Malaga and is full of tourist and historical attractions.

Andalusia in southern Spain is one of our favourite places in Europe. We always return there when we long for extraordinary history and phenomenal weather.

There are places here that one could write about for hours, but unfortunately, they often lose in the tourist competition with the sandy beaches of the Alboran Sea, washing the shores of the Costa del Sol region. Let’s not deceive ourselves; we also love the bright beaches around Malaga. There’s everything you need to feel like in the tropics, palm trees, turquoise waves, sun almost all year round, as well as superb hotels, restaurants, parking lots, and legendary party spots. However, I strongly encourage you to venture into the heart of the country, to places like Ronda, where the true essence of southern Spain lies hidden.

Ronda lies on the Costa del Sol, a popular coastline in southern Spain

The impression upon arrival is wonderful, but sobriety quickly sets in. Costa del Sol is the most commercial place in all of Spain. All those restaurants, bars, and even palm trees stand here for one purpose – to delight sun-thirsty tourists.

There are masses of the latter. In the high season, it’s difficult to squeeze through, and finding a quiet spot on any of the beaches is nearly impossible. Wherever you look, there’s a hotel, most often pretending to be a five-star, even if it’s just a three-star. Those that can boast five stars hide in charming, much quieter places.

When you start noticing the things I’m writing about, it means it’s time to hit the road. It happens to us the next day, or maybe the second day after arrival, depending on the weather we left behind in the UK. We nervously glance around and peek towards the roads leading out of the city. That’s where stories unfold, and that’s where a real adventure awaits us. After all, that’s why the car is parked right in front of the hotel.

So, we pack our belongings, the travel plan, and set off. We leave when the city is still asleep, and the sun hasn’t had a chance to heat the buildings and roads to a reddish hue. You don’t have to go far. Just beyond Malaga, driving along the coast to the west, you’ll reach the more English than Spanish Torremolinos, with its Benalmadena Colomares Castle. It’s one of the prettier castles in this part of Spain that I’ve seen. Then Mijas and Marbella, where in the luxurious yacht harbour, we can see what we’re missing out on by not being part of a multimillionaire family.

As we head north, moving away from the sun-drenched coast, we arrive at Antequera, and further west to El Chorro, with the famous King’s Path. Just a little further, and we’re in Ronda, the city I’ll tell you about today.

The city of Ronda in Spain in the south of Spain its history and history

Ronda is a typical city in this part of Spain where at every step, you can see the influence of many cultures that left their mark here over the centuries. Initially, there were the Romans (where weren’t they?). After the fall of Rome, the Moors arrived and ruled the city until the 15th century, after which they were replaced by Christians.

In a broad sense, this is what Ronda looks like. It is divided into two main districts, the Moorish one, called La Ciudad, and the newer one, created after the defeat of the Muslims, the Christian El Mercadillo.

The two parts of the city are separated by the enormous El Tajo gorge. The river Guadaletin carved it out, and although small, it managed to deal with the hard rock, digging an almost hundred-meter crevice in it.

Ronda in Spain roundabouts in Muslim times

When the Moors ruled in Ronda, the part of the city lying on the southern edge of the gorge flourished. To this day, you can see typical Muslim architecture or its remnants here. The Christians rebuilt the city according to their preferences, as is the right of the victors. From the rubble of former minarets, on the foundations of destroyed mosques, stand today Christian churches and chapels.

Fortunately, amidst all this chaos and the desire for destruction, a few beautiful monuments were overlooked, including:

Mondragon Palace in Ronda

Palacio Mondragon in Ronda was built in the 14th century for the Arab governor of the region. It’s worth entering, if only to stroll through its beautiful gardens. If you’re interested in archaeology, then you must visit, as the building houses the Archaeological Museum.

Palacio del Rey Moro is the so-called water mine. The structure was carved into the rock by the Moors in the early 14th century. Water was drawn from here for the city. To reach its bottom, one has to descend hundreds of steep stairs.

Puente Viejo, one of the bridges in Ronda

Puente Viejo in Ronda, one of the oldest bridges connecting the two parts of Ronda, is also the smallest. To this day, disputes persist among historians about whether it was built by the Romans or the Arabs. The view from this bridge is particularly beautiful.

Banos Arabes in Ronda

The famous Arab baths. A curious fact is that the entire system of supplying, heating, and draining water has survived to this day in almost untouched condition. Like most baths of this type, the facility is divided into three parts, with cold, warm, and hot water. Incredible! And to think that in our modern homes, we have to replace pipes every few decades.

Minaret of St. Sebastian in Ronda

The Minaret of St. Sebastian is the last structure of its kind in the city. Before the arrival of Christians, it stood next to a mosque, which was later renovated and is now the Church of St. Sebastian.

These are just a few of the many monuments that recall the times when the Moors ruled the city.

El Mercadillo new town in Ronda

To the north, in times before the arrival of Christians, the focus of construction was mainly on rural estates, warehouses, and a giant market, from which this part of the city took its name. El Marcadillo means “the market” or “the square” in Spanish. It was only when the famous Puente Nuevo bridge was built that houses and settlements began to appear in this area.

Today, the central and most popular place in El Marcadillo is Carrera Espinel street, running from the Mirador de Ronda viewpoint, where from a high cliff, you can gaze at the cultivated fields lying in the valley. Carrera Espinel is essentially a pedestrian street full of everything tourists might need. There are souvenir shops, hat stores every few meters, as well as numerous small restaurants and cafes serving delicious ice cream and incredibly strong coffee.

Prices in this part of the city are high. The time for shopping will come when you get lost in the narrow streets somewhere a bit further from the center.

Corrida de Toros bullring in Ronda

Not far from the Mirador de Ronda viewpoint stands a round arena where brave matadors engage in fierce battles with real horned beasts. Such places in Spain are called Plaza de Toros and are inseparably linked to Spanish culture.

The roots of bullfighting (Corrida de Toros) supposedly trace back to Roman times. As it is known, the Romans in their arenas liked to force others to play with animals like lions, tigers, or panthers. After the Romans departed, the arenas remained, but lions were difficult to come by. The most dangerous available animal at hand was the bull, and that’s how it began.

Today, during a corrida, animals are no longer killed, but rather engage in bloodless contests that are no less exciting, even more intriguing. After all, the bull has the opportunity to touch the trodden ground more than once and gain experience.

Initially, toreros fought bulls while seated on specially trained horses. In Ronda, a form of bullfighting originated where the torero faces the beast on foot.

The city’s residents take great pride in their Corrida de Toros and can recount stories related to it from morning until night. Spanish people, generally, can sit from morning until night and talk, as long as they’re in the shade with a glass of wine in hand. It was on such an occasion that we learned the story of a famous torero, Francisco Romero, who, after a bull killed his horse, attacked the beast on foot armed only with a sword.

The bullfighting arena is a very fascinating place. You can explore it on your own or with a hired guide. Just make sure beforehand that the guide speaks the language you understand.

Puente Nuevo Bridge in Ronda

From Corrida de Toros, you can reach the previously mentioned Puente Nuevo bridge, which is now the city’s hallmark. In translation, its name means “New Bridge” It is a structure built with three arches, reaching all the way to the bottom of the canyon, about 120 meters below. Construction began in 1759 and lasted for over 30 years.

The name is effortless to explain. An earlier bridge was built here, but someone miscalculated, and it collapsed, burying many people at the bottom of the gorge. The new one looks solid and is gorgeous. In the central part, between the spans, several rooms were built, initially used as a prison.

The victims of the collapsed old bridge, many decades earlier, were not the only people who perished shattered on the rocky bottom of the gorge. During the Civil War in the 1930s, both warring sides killed prisoners by throwing them over the railing. Not a pleasant thought, especially when you think about it while leaning over the abyss.

The surroundings of Puente Nuevo are mainly viewing terraces. You can walk and admire the Tajo de Ronda plateau, which looks truly beautiful from the canyon’s peaks. I recommend waiting for the golden hour, just before sunset. The El Tajo rocks look like they’re cast in gold, and the greenery in the distance shines and blends with the dark blue sky beyond the horizon. Fantastic impression!

Almost the entire space around the great crevice has been utilized by hotels and restaurants, each with its viewing terrace. Can you imagine enjoying a fragrant cup of coffee in such surroundings?

If you enjoy hiking and are not afraid of climbing, take a descent to the bottom of the El Tajo canyon along the Camino de los Molinos trail. The views are incredible, difficult to describe, and equally challenging to forget.

The oldest district of Ronda is La Ciudad

As you mentioned earlier, the southern part of Ronda, known as La Ciudad, preserves the memory of Muslim times. Between 17th-century buildings, remnants of the old Moorish structures are still visible.

In some places, entire sections of the oldest buildings have been used, and new wings have been added. The old layout of streets and narrow alleys has also been preserved, unlike the newer part of the city, El Marcadillo, where the streets have a more regular layout characteristic of Spain.

La Ciudad is full of narrow passages between buildings. Streets climb, wind like a snake, or descend, sometimes very steeply. In shaded corners, you’ll find small art galleries, coffees, or small private museums. There are also small gardens full of flowers, making the streets smell like high-end perfumeries. Such places remind us of what we saw in Marrakech when we wandered through Jemaa el-Fnaa.

Unlike the newer part of the city, it’s challenging to find parking, a large market, or one of the chain coffees here. Everything around reminds us that it was designed by people from a different culture. Despite the initial impression of chaos, over time, we appreciate the narrow, shaded streets that effectively shield pedestrians from the scorching sun and, in winter, from the wind and cold.

La Ciudad is home to numerous local art galleries, picturesque gardens with fountains, and the most interesting museums.

Interesting museums in Ronda in Spain that I recommend

As always, we love visiting museums, so this time we didn’t miss the opportunity, and we highly recommend it to you as well. You have many places to choose from where you can delve into history. You must decide which ones interest you the most.

Lara Museum in Ronda

The Lara Museum, whose full name is Casa Palacio Museo Lara, is the life’s work of Juan Antonio Lara. He dedicated his entire adult life to collecting exhibits that we can now admire at the Lara Museum.

For us, it was probably one of the more fascinating museums in Ronda. The impression was likely influenced by the fact that it reminds us of the much-loved Snowhill Manor House in England. The owner there also had a passion for collecting extraordinary items with intriguing histories.

In the Lara Museum, you’ll find many rooms organized thematically. There are collections of old weapons, measuring instruments, and navigational tools. There is a room where old photographic and cinematic equipment has been gathered.

However, the most intriguing part awaits us in the basement. Everything related to the infamous Spanish Inquisition, witches, and sorcery has been collected here. So, you’ll find devices used to torture all sorts of women who were careless enough to be caught doing something inappropriate or simply had bad luck.

The ingenuity of the tools used by the “holy” inquisitors suggests that the current plague of paedophilia faced by the church is nothing compared to the perversions of the priests of that time.

In addition, you will see musical instruments, memorabilia from famous matadors, typewriters, sewing machines, and many other interesting exhibits.

Museo del Bandolero, or the Bandit Museum in Ronda

The Bandit Museum, Museo del Bandolero, is dedicated to criminals and bandits who roamed through Andalusia over the past thousand years. The first mentions speak of bands attacking Roman estates, followed by robberies of Arab caravans, and finally, those from the beginning of the last century.

There were periods in history when bandoleros were described as heroes. This was the case during the French occupation, when entire gangs engaged in partisan warfare. Villagers saw them as Polish mountainous Janosik figures because they sometimes rescued the most needy from oppression or financially supported liberation movements.

The museum consists of several rooms where objects used by bandits, clothing, and documents are gathered. Additionally, there are newspaper clippings, wanted posters, comics, and books.

One drawback is that not all materials are available in English.

Unicaja Joaquín Peinado Museum in Ronda

Unicaja Joaquin Peinado is a renowned artist hailing from Ronda. In many rooms, the works of the master and other materials allowing you to become familiar with his life and art are exhibited. If you appreciate modern art, especially that connected with Spain, this place is a must-visit.

Looking at the photos from that trip today, so many noteworthy places come to mind, which I’ll probably cover in another article.

Each of the mentioned places seems to beg for a separate story, which I hope, in some cases, can be accomplished.

Ronda in Spain practical information and advice for tourists

• Prices in Ronda, especially in tourist-frequented places, are relatively high.
• Tickets to galleries and museums are reasonably priced. To save some money, you can get a combined ticket, which is available at the tourist information office (Oficina Municipal de Turismo de Ronda) near Puente Nuevo and Plaza de Toros.
• It’s advisable to find parking in the new part of the city, El Mercadillo. Entering La Ciudad can turn your trip into a real automotive nightmare.
• Many narrow streets and viewpoints in the old part of the city are located in hard-to-reach places. Occasionally, you have to navigate steep and somewhat dangerous roads and stairs. I don’t recommend venturing there in flip-flops.

Curiosities, facts, and information related to the city of Ronda in Spain

• In Ronda, the flag, anthem, and coat of arms of Andalusia were created.
• Ronda has been depicted in the works of many renowned artists, including Ernest Miller Hemingway. In his book “For Whom the Bell Tolls” he described the execution of political prisoners thrown off Puente Nuevo bridge into the depths of the gorge.
• The Mondragón Palace, known as the “Little Alhambra” served as the residence of Arab rulers and bears a striking resemblance to the famous Alhambra fortress in style.
• Ronda is situated at a considerable altitude, leading to significant temperature differences compared to lower-lying areas. Snow in winter is not uncommon here.
• During rain, the streets of the old town become hazardous. Stone-paved sidewalks and roads become a real trap for careless tourists.
• The El Tajo gorge dividing the city into two parts has a length of over 500 meters and a depth of 150 meters.
• Three bridges span the vast chasm; Puente Romano, Puente Viejo, and the famous Puente Nuevo.
• Puente Nuevo is one of the most frequently photographed landmarks in Spain.
• Legend has it that railings were installed on Puente Nuevo due to Ernest Hemingway. The renowned writer liked to drink almost to unconsciousness and wander the city at night. There was a fear that he might fall into the abyss one day.
• Ernest Hemingway claimed that Ronda is the most beautiful city in the world.
• Apart from Ernest Hemingway, Ronda was regularly visited by Orson Welles and Rainer M. Rilke.
• In Ronda, famous sweets called Yemas de Ronda or Yemas del Tajo are produced. They are made in small confectionery workshops, and the recipe is strongly protected as a secret.
• The city boasts numerous viewpoints, with the most famous ones being:
  • Casa don Bosco
  • Mirador de Ronda
  • Mirador de los Viajeros Romanticos
  • Cuenca Gardens; Jardines De Cuenca
  • Mirador de Aldehuela

Polish version