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Wander Around Ronda |
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| Being
positioned on an outcrop of rock in a basin surrounded by mountain
ranges, the fascinating town of Ronda, one of the oldest in Spain,
has, throughout the ages, been difficult to get to. This, together
with the climate, hydrology and geology has been a strong influence
on the development of the area, evidence of habitation going back
to Prehistoric times, after which it was governed by the Romans and
then the Muslims before the conquest by the Catholic Kings in 1485.
The Arabic influence can be seen very clearly today in the style of
building, the cuisine, agricultural methods and in many other local
traditions, although it was only in the 18th century that the town’s
most well known monuments, the New Bridge and the Bullring, were erected. Access to Ronda these days is certainly not a problem, the town being situated conveniently on the A376 which connects the coastal town of San Pedro on the Costa del Sol with Seville. Starting from Alora, we headed north up the A357, which connects Malaga with Campillos, and turned left along the A367, the relative quietness of the roads and the staggering scenery along the way making the journey an absolute pleasure. Ronda is a must for any keen explorer of Andalucia. Stylish, relaxed and simply unique, it is guaranteed to impress. We parked our car in the old part of town near the church of Espiritu Santo, walking back up the hill to cross the bridge and explore some of the town’s many attractions. Incredible views keep opening up across the valleys and mountains, sometimes making you dizzy as a result of their magnitude and of course the height of the many incredible vantage points. There is no shortage of extremely tempting and very sophisticated restaurants in the town, some with superb patios seemingly on the edge of the world and there are also lots of little tapas bars, the best, in my opinion, being in the older part of town. You could choose to simply wander around, enjoying the lively atmosphere, the wonderful architecture and the lovely, colourful, shady and well kept gardens near the bullring, perhaps take a sightseeing ride in a splendid horse drawn carriage or you could visit some of the interesting museums such as the Museum of Wine, the Hunting Museum, the Bullfighting Museum or the Bandit Museum, the area being famous for bullfighting and banditry in the 19th century. Should you wish to stay in the town for a few days, and the attractions and possibilities for further exploration of the area certainly merit such a decision, we found a lovely hotel in the old part of town, formerly a private residence, with magnificent gardens laid out on five levels, including a fabulous swimming pool and staggering views over the surrounding countryside. I asked the Spanish owner whether he had travelled much to other parts of the world and he smiled contentedly as he shook his head. “No,” he said, “there is no need, I live in Ronda.” |
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October
2007
If you like exploring fascinating towns like Ronda and would like to immerse yourselves in this incredible, picturesque part of Andalucia in Spain, why not stay at some of the holiday accommodation we have found along the way. There's a tempting selection of beautiful apartments with stunning views in Teba, exquisite B&B hotels, villas and apartments in Ronda, Alora, Pizarra, El Chorro and El Torcal. Click here for details |