Visiting Ronda in Andalucia

Another dreary rainy day in Andalucia found me in Ronda, a city the American author Ernest Hemingway (1899 – 1961) had fallen in love with.

That is where you should go if you ever go to Spain on a honeymoon or if you ever bolt with anyone.

Ernest Miller Hemingway

Just about nine miles of Mediterranean Sea separates Ronda from the north of Africa. At some point in its history, it was part of Morocco. Despite the clouds I found the landscape to be particularly spectacular.

Puente Nuevo

The famous bridge above the breath-taking El Tajo gorge is the Puente Nuevo (New Bridge). It was built in the 18th century to connect the old Moorish side of town with the newer part. I had wanted to hike down into the gorge but the rains did not permit.

Oldest Bullring in Spain

Ronda is also famous as the cradle of modern bullfighting. The oldest bullring in Spain, the Plaza de Toros de Ronda, was built here in 1785. The statue outside is that of Antonio Ordoñez, a famous bullfighter. The ashes of Orson Wells, another American who loved Ronda, are buried on the property of Antonio Ordoñez.

Bullfighting is not so popular these days for obvious reasons. Still, there are about 3 fights per year. Mostly, the ring is used as a horseback -riding school.

Banos Arabes

The Banos Arabes (Arab Baths) are considered to be the best-preserved hammams in Spain. They are just outside the old city walls and they go back to about the 11th century.

The largest of Andalucia’s pueblos blancos (white towns), Ronda felt like I had walked into a time machine. Magical. Like Cadiz, I found Ronda worthy of a return visit on a leisure holiday.

That concludes the end of my 10-day Andalusian trip from October 2018.