Ronda

Andalucia’s fastest growing town. A popular tourist destination, the third most visited place in Andalucia after Sevilla and Granada. Its famous for the dramatic gorge that seperates the new and old town, and is seen as the home of the modern bullfight.


Ronda.

Our journey to Ronda took us over the most famous landmark of all, the “Puente Nuevo”, the new bridge that spans the El Tajo gorge. If you don’t like heights, don’t look down from the bridge. The river is more than 100 metres below. We parked on the new side of town, below an impressive square with fantastic buildings.


Plaza above the Parking.

This is close to the home of Bullfighting. The Plaza de Toros is now a museum. This place saw the birth of the modern bullfight. Before, it was conducted on horseback. Then this tradition was broken by the Ronda-born bull fighter, Pedro Romero Martinez, in the 18th century. He paved the way for making Bull fighting an “art form” where the Matador stood toe to toe with the bull. He was immortalised in the famous Goya portrait and is also referenced in Ernest Hemingways “The Sun also Rises”.


Statue outside the Bull Ring.

The bridge that spans the El Tajo gorge is best viewed from below. There is a nice walk that takes you to various viewing points and a number of other bridges lower down. The old town is home to Plaza de la Duquesa de Parcent. Here you can see the church Santa Maria de la mayor and the convent Santa Isabel de los Angeles.


View of the Bridge from below.

A quick coffee and the purchase of the obligatory fridge magnet and it seemed that the girls wanted to do a bit of shopping. Shoe shopping at that. We quickly put paid to that idea and decided to call it a day. The drive back down the mountain is spectacular. The views and the sight of the various Spanish bikers whizzing past makes it a great road to drive.