Ronda

Ronda is a town in Malaga in Spain. Set in and around a deep gorge spanned by an impressive bridge, the relaxing atmosphere here is a great break from some of the more tourist-ridden places on the south coast of Spain, however it can still be packed with day-trippers from the Costa del Sol, especially during the peak summer months.

Getting there

Ronda is easy to get to by train from Madrid or regional trains and is a good day trip from the Costa del Sol resorts. The main train station, located just just five minutes walk from the central bus station, is just a few blocks from the centre of town.

The easiest way to get to Ronda from Malaga is by bus. Los Amorillos buses cost around €9 and take about two hours to get to Ronda.

Traveling around

Ronda is a small town, easily navigable on foot.

See

• Puente Nuevo. The large and incredible bridge over the gorge (el Tajo), finished in 1793. The height from top to bottom is about 100 m, like a 30 floor building. Inside the bridge there is a small museum.

• Calle la Bola is the local name for Calle Espinel, the main shopping and strolling street in town. (Trivia: "La bola" means "ball" in Spanish; the street earned its nickname when, after a heavy snowfall, a group of citizens rolled a large snowball down its slope.)

• Plaza de Toros. The oldest and one of the most highly regarded of Spain's bull rings. You can visit the museum inside (€6).

• La Alameda. A nice park with shady trees and ample walking space. It's right next to the bull ring, and you can see wonderful panoramas from the balconies.

• La Ciudad. The old district of Ronda, beyond the new bridge. Full of twisting, narrow streets. Located there are the church of Santa Maria la Mayor and the Palacio de Mondragon. The former, on the site of town's main mosque during Moorish rule, is a Gothic style cathedral that, inside, has elements of the Baroque and Rococo as well. The latter is a former Moorish palace with beautiful gardens, a fantastic view, and a small museum. (Small fee).

• Puente Viejo and Arco de Felipe V. On the eastern side of the old city, down the hill. This small bridge was the means of crossing the Tajo before the completion of the newer, larger one. Also in this area is a beautiful arch, named for Phillip the Fifth.

Things to do

• Gorge. A must is to walk to the bottom of the gorge where you'll get the best photo shots. But if there is an extended dry spell, the gorge can stink because they still release sewerage into the river -- you have been warned.

Eat

Avoid the restaurants in the tourist area during the day, as they are overpriced and often only full of other tourists! Look for smaller cafes and bars. A quick breakfast usually consists of toast (pan tostada) and coffee (cafe con leche--coffee with milk; be sure to add the pack of sugar always served with it for a real treat.) If you are looking for an inexpensive snack or lunch, any bar will be able to make you a sandwich (bocadillo) with your choice of ham, cheese, or tomato. Also, look for bakeries (pastelerias), as Spain has some of the finest pastries around.

• Cafe Bar Bodega San Francisco, Calle Ruedo Alameda 32, Good place for eating authentic Andalusian food, just outside the ancient walls of the old town.

Drink

Near Ronda, high quality wines are produced in small wineries. Also you can find "Anis del Tajo".

• Huskeys This is a bar run by a man who used to live in America and it's decently priced and has a good atmosphere.

Sleep

There are plenty of hotels in the area of town tourists are likely to want to stay, on some streets it looks like more of the buildings are hotels than are not.

• Hotel Enfrente Arte Ronda, Calle Real, 40 - Ronda Tel. (+34) 95 287 90 88, .

• Hotel Acinipo, C/ José Aparicio, 7 - Ronda. Tel. (+34) 95216 10 02, . 4 star Hotel in downtown Ronda.

• Parador de turismo

• Hotel Maestranza

• Hotel Victoria

• Hotel RondaSol. A family-run place; the mother of the family at least speaks fluent French as well as Spanish. €20 (double room with sink). €13 (single room with sink).

• Hotel Montelirio , 952 87 38 55, Tenorio 8, Excellent hotel in the old town with an awesome view of the Puente Nuevo for most of the rooms.

Buy

There are plenty of ATMs dotted about the main commercial district.

Ronda is a district hub for the bus services to other pueblo blanco towns and villages such as Montejaque, Benaojan and Zahara la Sierra. Most of these villages have at least one weekday service, while others have up to three services a day.