Ronda in Spain

The Andalucian city of Ronda part of the Costa del Sol, Spain

Located in the province of Malaga and still part of the Costa del Sol, Ronda is a magnificent place surrounded by centuries of history and providing a spectacular scene for it's many visitors. Ronda is situated high up in the mountains and can see snow in the winter months.

Ronda is home to a river gorge called El Tajo, which seperates to two main historical parts of the city. At the top of this gorge is a bridge made out of stone which many years ago housed a prison. The view from the bridge is one of the many reasons Ronda attracts so many visitors every year.

Walking around the Spanish city of Ronda is quite breathtaking with it's different styles of buildings and architecture. There is a heavy Moorish influence in the city and the oldest bull ring in Spain is also located in Ronda. This alone is a huge tourist attraction as it is well known for being one of the most beautiful in the country. Being so popular, there is a museum at the bull ring depicting some of the best bull fights and bull fighters through history.

The elevated position of Ronda and the difficulty to approach the city by foot made it virtually invincible to the Christians that tryed in vane to take back the city from the Moors. It did eventually fall but was one of the last cities to be taken in the re-conquest of Spain by the Christians.

There are many walks and things to see around Ronda but the views have to be seen to be believed. The river River Guadalevin lies way below the bridge and it is possible to take the many steps down the mountainside to the viewing platform below overlooking the river.

Even shopping in Ronda is a delight as many of the shops have managed to retain their original appearence and stlye so it looks like you are shopping in medieval Spain. The shopping area is now pedestrianised, which makes the whole experience even more enjoyable.

Getting to Ronda from the coast is actually fairly straight forward and will take about an hour to get there, although it is only about 45kms away. The road is good but very steep and windy. If you have passengers they will certainly enjoy the drive as the scenery, countryside and views back to the coast are some of the best in Andalucia. The "Ronda road" is accessed just by San Pedro de Alcantara, which is beween Estepona and Marbella. Once you are on the road you just keep going until you reach the city of Ronda, one of Andalucia's best kept secrets.

If you are planning to stay for a few days there are many rural hotels in Ronda or just outside the village which add to the ambience of a trip to the city. We have listed some of the country hotels in Ronda for your reference.

Rural hotels in Ronda