Town of Ronda Costa del Sol

During your stay in the Costa del Sol, why not take an excursion trip to Ronda. Ronda is situated in the mountains about 1 hour north of Marbella and is widely regarded as being one of the most spectacularly locates cities in Spain. This is due to the fact Ronda sits on a massive rocky outcrop, straddling a limestone cleft.

Throughout the town there is a lot for the visitor to see, such as El Mercadillo, one of the oldest bullrings in Spain, and the Puente Nuevo (New Bridge), an impressive 18^th century bridge which connects the old town with the new town over the 100 metre deep Tajo gorge.

During your day out in Ronda you will also be able to enjoy some of the best bars and restaurants serving typical Andalusian cuisine.

Ronda is renowned for its spectacular setting. The views of the ravine and surrounding landscapes, its historical background and legends of bandits, all add to a certain mystique, which continues to attract visitors. A mighty split in the EI Tajo gorge, spanned by the Puente Nuevo, divides the town into Old Ronda (La Ciudad) and the newer part, known as EI Mercadillo.

Most monuments of note are in the old town, which retains Moorish influences. These include the imposing church of Santa Maria la Mayor, the Minaret of San Sebastian, the Palacio de Mondragon and the Casa del Gigante, the Palacio del Marques de Salvatierra and the gardens of the Casa del Rey Moro. The Museo Lara (Science and History) and Museo del Bandolero (History and Legends of local bandits) are also worth a visit. The cafe lined Plaza del Socorro is the focal point of the newer part of town, Ronda's main shopping centre, with more magnificent views to be seen from the attractive gardens of the Alameda del Tajo, near by Ronda has longstanding associations with bullfighting.

The bullring, near the Puente Nuevo, was built in 1785 and is the oldest in Spain. It was here that the rules of modern bullfighting were laid down by Francisco Romero, whose grandson Pedro Romero went on to become one of Spain's most famous matadors. The bullring, now owned by Antonio Ordonez, another of the greats, is used only for special fiestas. The bullfighting museum behind the ring contains glittering costumes, gear and a wealth of photographs relating to the world of bullfighting.

Ronda is a city with a romantic past. Ernest Hemingway spent time here, forming a close friendship with Ordonez. Ronda is believed to have been used as a setting for Death in the Afternoon and For Whom the Bell Tolls. Another friend of Ordonez was Orson Welles, whose ashes are scattered over the nearby ranch of the bullfighter.

Some 20km southwest of Ronda is the Pileta Cave which has significant prehistoric rock paintings of animals, outlined in black and red, believed to date back to over 25,000 years ago. The illustrated figures include bison, deer, horses and a large fish.