Ronda

Ronda

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Tradition and salero

Merging traditional Spanish culture with the views of the steep gorges of Guadalevin river, Ronda, somewhat apart from the busy touristy area, but close enough to be part of it, is a very interesting visit for those in holidays in Costa del Sol.

We spent two weeks in Marbella, and planned an express visit to Ronda.

This is what we saw and felt.

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Alameda del Tajo

Tajo is a large river that flows... far from Ronda.

However the name is commonly associated to the city, and to the canyon where flows Guadalevin river.

Lining part of the canyon's rim, there a planted avenue, coming from the 19th century, with pleasant shades under the violent son of Andalusia, with good sightseeing points.

Old City

All the old ambiance of Ronda is concentrated in a small area, easy to walk around.

Christians and Muslims remains share the space with the bright colors of Andaluzia enhancing the whole.

A very well elaborated street map, available free in the tourist office, will allow you to identify everything and to easily circulate in the narrow streets.

Plaza de Espanha

the center of most Spanish towns is generally a large and beautiful square, with the name of the country.

Ronda is not exception, but the square, though made famous by Ernest Hemingway, in his romance "From whom the bell tolls" is much more discreet than usually.

Adjacent to the roman bridge it has a statue of a local politician (Antonio Rosas), the beautiful "parador" and the useful tourist office.

Mondragon Palace

The most important civil monument in Ronda, this Mudejar palace is today the city's museum. We decided to shorten the visit, skipping the museum, and having only a glimpse of the building itself, but, at the end we changed our minds.

We thought that they were separated visits, and went straight to the wonderful yards and gardens, but, in our way out... we visited all the museum. The only problem was that we were moving in opposite direction to everybody.

"Everybody" were, however, not many tourists, so we had no problem at all, but, when visiting the palace, take our advice and follow the signed ways to the museum - discipline is nice!

The house of the Moorish king

The so called palace was built in the 18th century, when the Moorish were already gone for centuries.

The only real thing from Moorish times is a staircase, cut in the walls of the cliffs by slaves, to bring water from the river when the city was besieged.

New bridge

Built in the beginning of the 18th century, this bridge became the symbol of the city. Modern architecture would make easy to link the edges of the narrow canyon, but centuries ago it had to be built from he bottom of it.

120 meters high, with strange proportions that make it... ugly, it is funny to see tourists searching the perfect angle to picture it, impossible to obtain from the city - you will have to descend a pathway in the canyon, and that... only the furious photographers will risk.

Plaza del Socorro

Centrally located, this is one of the most touristy squares in Ronda, topped by Socorro church and lined with bars, and restaurants.

A nice fountain stands in the center, above a covered parking very well placed but not easy to big cars.

Arab baths

I read that the Arab baths, in the edge of the historic centre, are interesting remains from the 13th century, with evidence to the tanneries.

Well, we have been close to it, but with a small child and his great-grandmother we had to sacrifice the steepest parts, which means that we saw it... from above.

Philip V arch

In the 18th century the old Muslim bridge collapsed, and this new entrance was rapidly built, in 1742, with a less steep road, and an arch becoming the point to collect the taxes due to enter the city.

Getting the name of the king by the time of its construction Felipe V, it was the city's main entrance until the construction of the new bridge.