Ronda Spain

The Spanish city of Ronda sits atop an Andalusian mountain slightly north of Spain's Mediterranean coast and the famed Costa del Sol. However, do not expect the same cosmopolitan style you'd find on the coast. Holidays here will be an absolute delight for those who treasure historic architecture and want to experience the Moorish feel that pervades Andalusia.

The town is small, with a population of 35,000; it's about 62 miles (100 km) from the province capital Málaga. Through the middle of town runs the Guadalevín River, carving out the deep El Tajo canyon. Today, the old center of the city is a tourist destination that combines sightseeing views with historic sites and a marketplace shopping experience.

One spectacular view is of the three bridges that span the canyon:
- Puente Romano ("Roman Bridge," also known as the Puente San Miguel)
- Puente Viejo ("Old Bridge," also known as the Puente Arabe)
- Puente Nuevo ("New Bridge")
Puente Nuevo is 'new' only in the sense that it was the last to be built -- in 1793! It's the tallest of the three bridges, towering over 390 feet (120 meters) above the El Tajo canyon floor. You can take guided walking tours of all the bridges, mostly to peer fearfully over the edge, to see the waters of the River Guadalevín racing along far down in the gorge.

Near the Puente Vieho/Puente Arabe, you'll find the original Baños árabes, the Arab baths. This 11th century site is considered one of the best preserved of its type in Europe. Today, the baths are still somewhat intact, and you can explore for a fee, though much of the site has been converted to a garden.

Continue walking to the far end of the Ciudad, and you'll reach the Palacio Mondragón, with miniature water gardens from its time as a Moorish palace in the 12th century. Today, you can explore the courtyard and gardens, and visit the Museum of Ronda and the Serrania.

Take the cobbled alley away from the Mondragón to the leafy Plaza Duquesa de Parcent, lined by churches, a convent, and the arched council building called the ayuntamiento. Get your picture taken next to the tiny bell tower of the Iglesia Santa Maria de Mayor. For lunch or a snack, follow the Calle Armiñan over to the Plaza of San Francisco, the traditional working class area filled with many restaurants and bars.

Follow another path away from the Mondragón, and find the Plaza del Campillo, which overlooks a dramatic view of the Puente Nuevo. From there, the Calle Espinel leads down to La Bola, the central gathering place for the town, opposite the town's famous bullring.

The oldest bull-fighting ring in Spain still in use, the Plaza de Toros de Ronda, built in 1784, is well-known as the birthplace of modern bullfighting in Spain. The town celebrates that fact with a yearly spectacular, the Feria Goyesca, held the first week of September. Participants dress in the style of Goya's art and celebrate the style of bullfighting pioneered here, where the matador stands against the bull on foot. Most of the time, though, the bullring is a museum where visitors are allowed to stroll out into the main arena.

On the last Sunday of April each year, the city holds a colorful pilgrimage in honor of the Virgen de la Cabeza. Festive music accompanies a spirited procession that carries the “Virgin of the Head” statue across town from the La Merced Church, out over the “Puente Nuevo” spanning the canyon, to a hermitage high in the cliffs.

If you want to explore a bit further afield, winery tours are a wonderful way to explore the local area, rapidly becoming famous for its boutique wineries. Sample some wine at several stops along the way, and then have a late lunch or early dinner at an excellent local restaurant, with more wine, of course.

What kind of entertainment and nighlife can you find here? For nighlife, go to the center of the city and the area called Los Remedios, where you'll find many nightclubs, and tapas bars like Lechuguita and Taberna del Antonio. For flamenco performances, go to the Círculo de Artistas or the Museo Lara -- if you prefer to do your own dancing, go to Sabor Latino for merengue and salsa. For the most strenuous dancing, head for the Bodega San Francisco, in the Barrio San Francisco, if you can squeeze into the tiny place. For a more relaxing pace, head for the Tetería Al Zahra, a small Moroccan café, where tea is served in ceramic teapots and you can enjoy eating Arabian tidbits.

You'll easily find accommodation within the city, where the hotels range from luxury (with swimming pools, elegant restaurants, and spectacular views of the canyon), to a simple accommodation styled in Victorian charm, to hotels with air-conditioned modern rooms and car parks. Or, try the renovated rooms in the old houses near the bullring. Rentals for holidays are also available for cottages, apartments, and villas throughout the city, and the region.

There is regular bus and train service into and out of the city from both the coast and the interior. If you travel by car, there are several scenic routes through the mountains -- take either the A376/C-3 from Costa del Sol, or, from the west, take the A377 through the towns of Gaucin and Caseres. For a gentler road, take the A357 from Málaga.