RONDA, España

[Bristol Mike]

RONDA, España

Country: Spain
Region: Andalusia (Municipality of Málaga)
Elevation: 752m (2467 ft)
Population
- City: 35,512

The second city I visited while away was Ronda. These photos were taken on Saturday 11th July. Ronda is situated in a very hilly area about 750 metres (2,500 ft) above mean sea level above the valley of the Guadalevín River, which flows between a breath-taking pass which divides the platform the city sits on in two. This canyon is known as 'El Tajo'.

Although in Paleolithic times, the prehistoric men dwelt in the mountain range, it was not until the Roman era, when the Castle Laurel was erected in the site curently occupied by the City of Ronda. During the Moslem invasion, the city ranged among the most prominent in the ones of the south of Spain and it became at one stage the capital of an independent Moslem sovereign. Followings its recapture though by the Catholic Kings of Spain in 1485, its moresque appearance was transformed and numerous convents, churches and palaces were then built. During the 18th Century, two of the most beautiful monuments of Ronda were raised - the Plaza de Toros and the Puente Nuevo which is also known as 'El Viaducto'. In the 19th Century, the appearance of the highwaymen and the innovation in the bullfighting technique attracted many Roman travellers to the city of Ronda.

I hope you enjoy the three-part show of Ronda.

[Bristol Mike]

PART I
Estación de Autobuses to El Tajo

An unimaginative place to start I know but the Bus Station is probably the most regular port of entry for not only tourists but also Spaniards to the city as Portillo public busses run frequently to other cities such as Algeciras to the southwest, Sevilla to the northwest and Granada to the east.

On leaving the bus, one can walk down the main road alongside the Plaza de Toros which leads directly down to Plaza de España and El Tajo. Off the main street there are plenty of little narrow streets which meet at the main square of the city - Plaza de Socorro. Here stands El Teatro, La Catedral and branching off it, Carrera de Espinel - the Calle Mayor of Ronda lined with shops, boutiques and restaurants.

Estación de Autobuses


Plaza de Andalusia


Calle San José


Calle San José


Calle Jerez


Calle Jerez, Plaza de la Merced, Iglesia Sagrada Familia


Calle Jerez


Calle Padre Mariano Soubiron


Plaza de Socorro, El Teatro


Plaza de Socorro


Plaza de Socorro, La Catedral de Nuestra Señora de Socorro


Plaza de Socorro, La Fuente & El Teatro


Plaza de Socorro, Sidestreet


Plaza de Socorro


Plaza de Socorro, Carrera Espinel


Plaza de Socorro


Plaza de Socorro, Carrera Espinel


Plaza de Socorro, El Teatro


Plaza de Socorro, La Catedral de Nuestra Señora de Socorro


Carrera Espinel


Carrera Espinel


Carrera Espinel


Carrera Espinel


Calle Virgen de la Paz


Calle Virgen de la Paz, Calle Nueva


Calle Virgen de la Paz, Calle Villanueva


Plaza de España


Plaza de España


Plaza de España, Calle Virgen de la Paz


Plaza de España, Calle Virgen de la Paz


Plaza de España, El Tajo

[Ribarca]

Great shots! Beautiful place.

[bthj]

I love Ronda.

[edubejar]

Oh sun, beautiful sun, abundant sun! I did not know Ronda looked this nice.

[christos-greece]

Another great spanish town @Mike, thanks for those photos

[GarfieldPark]

Beautiful City. I love the ancient Roman bridges - although you can't really see them in your pictures. I believe the third from the last picture shows the bridge from the "upper" view, but the view from down below - looking up is really amazing. There is a really deep ravine there - that leads down to the lower land below. Love those crowded street shots! Thanks.

[LS Kim]

Awesome place! Andalusia is so beauty!!

[tonyssa]

Nice place!

[Bristol Mike]

Originally Posted by Ribarca

Great shots! Beautiful place.

Originally Posted by bthj

I love Ronda.

Originally Posted by edubejar

Oh sun, beautiful sun, abundant sun! I did not know Ronda looked this nice.

Originally Posted by christos-greece

Another great spanish town @Mike, thanks for those photos

Thanks guys, your comments are very much appreciated!

Originally Posted by GarfieldPark

Beautiful City. I love the ancient Roman bridges - although you can't really see them in your pictures. I believe the third from the last picture shows the bridge from the "upper" view, but the view from down below - looking up is really amazing. There is a really deep ravine there - that leads down to the lower land below. Love those crowded street shots! Thanks.

Oh believe me this is only round one. There are three bridges that span the El Tajo gorge, the most iconic of which as you say I am standing on in the third to last. And yes the streets were packed when we arrived but I forgot of course that at three o' clock - the shops close!

Originally Posted by LS Kim

Awesome place! Andalusia is so beauty!!

Thanks mate.

[Bristol Mike]

Originally Posted by tonyssa

Nice place!

Thanks for the comment.

[geoff189d]

A perfect looking city. Thanks.

[Ribarca]

Originally Posted by Bristol Mike

T And yes the streets were packed when we arrived but I forgot of course that at three o' clock - the shops close!

True, but people mention the Siesta but forget to mention that in many places the stores are open until 9 in the evening in Spain!

[MieZ]

Nice pictures! Like those wrought iron fences on the balconys and that bustling narrow street in particular!

I am persuaded to visit Ronda too.
In two weeks I go to Fuengirola, but is it well attainable by public transport from there?

[Bristol Mike]

Originally Posted by geoff189d

A perfect looking city. Thanks.

Hey thanks. Yes I think one think that is great that so many British cities lack adn this is Spanish cities in general is the sheer number of pedestrianised streets - they're so pretty and atmospheric to walk in compared to the busy sidewalks and congested streets of the UK.

Originally Posted by Ribarca

True, but people mention the Siesta but forget to mention that in many places the stores are open until 9 in the evening in Spain!

Yes this is also true. It is very apparent in places like Marbella and such but it only hit home when we were in Ronda because it's the busiest time of the day for tourists being there when they want to shop. The shops don't again open until more like 6-7pm when all the tourists have gone home again. It didn't spoil the trip though - if anything it helped with taking pictures without too many people's heads in the way jeje.

Originally Posted by MieZ

Nice pictures! Like those wrought iron fences on the balconys and that bustling narrow street in particular!

I am persuaded to visit Ronda too.
In two weeks I go to Fuengirola, but is it well attainable by public transport from there?

I also found those attractive. I remember someone saying that it was partly to do with security which is understandable but very clever too. Having railing across the windows on the ground floor is very good security-wise and up above they are attractive.

It is easy to get to Ronda from Marbella but it's just a case of how easy it is from Fuengirola to Marbella. In my experience, the public transport is very hit and miss. You wait 30 minutes for a bus to come then three come along at once but if you know what bus to catch to Marbella that's good. That will drop you in the centre of Marbella on Avenida Ricardo Soriano (pictured in my other thread), then you will need either a 2 or 6 bus to the central bus station of Marbella in order to catch a bus to Ronda. It's all labelled very well though in the bus station for what time, what bus and what bay etc. Have fun in the Costa del Sol.

[Benonie]

Very nice thread and beautiful pics.
I have some friends who moved to Ronda 2 years ago. Damned, they were right! Ronda looks great! I must visit them once....

[Bristol Mike]

PART II
Puente Nuevo to Puente Antiguo

On crossing the viaduct, I had a small exploration of the medeival part of the city which was very quick due to the small size of the place. Being on a slope on one side of the El Tajo, by walking the narrow streets downhill, one comes to the Puente Antiguo which was the original bridge from one side of the city to the other.

Puente Nuevo


Puente Nuevo, The View


Puente Nuevo, The View


Puente Nuevo, The View


Puente Nuevo


Puente Nuevo, The View


El Tajo (Old City Side)


El Tajo (Old City Side)


Calle Marcos de Salvatierra


Calle Tenorio


Calle Tenorio, Plaza María Auxilidora


Plaza El Gigante, Hotel


Plaza El Gigante, Calle San Juan Bosco


Plaza El Gigante, Hotel


Calle Marcos de Salvatierra


Calle Marcos de Salvatierra


Calle Marcos de Salvatierra


Calle Santo Domingo


Calle Santo Domingo, View To New City


Calle Santo Domingo, View To New City


Calle Santo Domingo, Plaza del Fuente de Ocho Caños


Calle Santo Domingo, View To The Countryside


Puente Antiguo, Plaza del Fuente de Ocho Caños


Puente Antiguo, El Tajo


Puente Antiguo, El Tajo


Puente Antiguo, El Tajo


Puente Antiguo, El Tajo


Calle Escolleras, Puente Antiguo


Calle Escolleras, El Tajo


Calle Escolleras, Puente Nuevo 'El Viaducto'

[Jonesy55]

Great photos of a lovely town, I was there about 5 years ago for a couple of days, we got soaked as it rained constantly for 2 days but never mind, lol.

If you want to get to Ronda, we arrived by train from Algeciras then left by bus going to Malaga. I think there are regular bus services from other coastal towns too.

[MieZ]

Originally Posted by Bristol Mike

I also found those attractive. I remember someone saying that it was partly to do with security which is understandable but very clever too. Having railing across the windows on the ground floor is very good security-wise and up above they are attractive.

It is easy to get to Ronda from Marbella but it's just a case of how easy it is from Fuengirola to Marbella. In my experience, the public transport is very hit and miss. You wait 30 minutes for a bus to come then three come along at once but if you know what bus to catch to Marbella that's good. That will drop you in the centre of Marbella on Avenida Ricardo Soriano (pictured in my other thread), then you will need either a 2 or 6 bus to the central bus station of Marbella in order to catch a bus to Ronda. It's all labelled very well though in the bus station for what time, what bus and what bay etc. Have fun in the Costa del Sol.

Thank you for your information. The second photo array is also very beautiful and the most famous side of Ronda, as published in travelguides, especially the bridge. So if I have a good impression, both sides are worth a visit and can be explored in one day.

[the man from k-town]

very nice landscape!