A Day in Andalusia's Pretty Town of Ronda, Spain with Dramatic Clifftop Views
Ah, Ronda.
Ronda used to supposedly be a bit of a secret, not heavily visited and not marketed as a big tourist destination either.
Read: The Essential Guide to Visiting and Driving Through Andalusia’s ‘Pueblos Blancos’
But as more and more discerning travellers began to write about this stunning town built on a cliff over a deep gorge, as more and more pictures of the town perched on the cliffs made it to the cover of more Pinterest pages, Ronda has become a bustling town for tourism.
Inhabited in the past by both the Romans and Moors, this history is reflected in the old town and it’s architecture, including Arab Baths and various bridges built by these inhabitants.
Ronda was also a favourite of the 19th century Viajeros Romanticos (‘romantic travellers’), a band of poets, writers and artists who travelled to unspoiled places in Europe for inspiration, and it’s not hard to see how the views of the rolling countryside and old town might inspire a feeling or two.
As always, Ronda being a small town means there isn’t much in the way of attractions or big must-sees, but the heart of the tourist core is the Puente Nuevo bridge which spans the 120 metre deep gorge down below, of which construction took several decades.
The bridge is said to connect the old town with the newer and shinier part of town for tourists.
And indeed, as you make your way through the town, passing by miradors (‘viewpoints’) with sweeping views of the lush green land surrounding the town, old bridges barely wide enough for vehicles today to cross and made entirely of stone, or the quiet streets away from the Puente Nuevo bridge, you’d be forgiven for thinking you’ve transported yourself into another time.
The El Tajo gorge that splits the town in half is a stunning one you can hike or drive down, though I can imagine will take a fair few hours depending on how far you’d like to get down, and it’s from down below that you’ll get a better sense of just how deep the gorge is and how massive this one bridge is.
Even within the town itself you have no shortage of great views as you make your way up and down these alleys and stone walls, and I got some great photographs from my walk from Puente Nuevo bridge to the smaller Roman and Moorish bridges that look like they haven’t changed since the 14th century.
I liked Ronda, I really did, but truth be told, these days— and especially in the height of summer, you see more tourists out and about than locals, which is kind of the norm these days for many a popular Spanish city or town, and though that’s par for the course and a similar situation worldwide, it is one of those things that I can’t help but think about when roaming these streets.
But of course, with cons come pros, and in this case, Ronda has turned into a great base for exploring other white villages (‘los pueblos blancos’) of Andalusia, both geographically and for the predominance of English and languages other than Spanish, making touring a fair bit easier for non-Spanish speakers.
There also exists a plethora of accommodation options and everyday amenities in the town.
Read: How to Spend a Day in Mijas ‘Pueblos Blanco’: A Guide to What to See & Eat
Read: The Best Things to do in Nerja and Frigiliana; Andalusia’s Gems on the Costa del Sol
Not to mention that it’s also a great destination for a day trip from the popular coastal town of Marbella, and quite a different environment and atmosphere just an hours’ drive away.
I liked Ronda, and I’m glad I’ve seen it, some of the views really were quite breathtaking, and if ever I needed some peace and quiet in a white village surrounded mostly by locals, I had no shortage of options in this part of the country anyway.
From my trip to Spain this summer, I've turned some of my photography into my brand of everyday products which you can check out below. Worldwide shipping is available so if you're looking for a tote bag or postcard to take home to remember your travels if you too have been to these parts of Spain, and if you'd like to support this passion project of mine, look no further!
View the full product catalogue at the shop here.
