A town called RONDA

Ronda is not a city which has as much fame and popularity in Andalucia as Malaga, Sevilla and Granada, and it's quite understable: it has no beach and it's quite small in comparison. 

From Malaga, you can go to Ronda by car in one hour and a half. No bother. However, you can also take a train from Malaga and you can arrive there in 2 hours, enjoying the view of the countryside and the mountains in the process. I really enjoyed that.

                                                       

                

Of course, the most impressive thing about Ronda, the landmark for which it is renowned is the Puente Nuevo. It is the most recent and the most grandiose of the three bridges connecting the old town of Ronda to the new town, through this imposing chasm called "El Tajo". 

                                 

The work started in 1735 but after difficulties and initial collapse of the bridge, work has halted and didn't resume before 1750 - and it took 43 more years of work before the completion of the work!

            

At the bottom of "El Tajo", you'll find the river Guadalevín. You can actually go down to the river and sneak under the pillars of the Puente Nuevo. And you can pretend you are in Thailand :)

                                                  

I said it is the biggest of three bridges because in Ronda it's like every occupant left its mark with a bridge. First, the Romans (photo below), then the Arabs, and finally the Spanish. 

Of course, the part of the old town which was not protected by the Tajo chasm was protected by a thick net of fortification, which are remarkably well kept, like for example the "Puerta de Almocabar" in the south part:

As I said, Ronda is not the most famous of cities in Andalucia, but as an escapade for a day, this is the perfect destination: it boasts incredibly good food, a wonderful old town perfectly preserved, the best historical hammam of Al-Andalus (see my post) and views to die for. And there are quite a lot of travellers who fell in love for Ronda, as is remembered in that azulejo compiling the quotes from Romantic travellers of the XIXth century:

And closely to use, Orson Welles and Ernest Hemingway also professed their love for this city, and for that they got their names around:

                                                            

And let's not forget the tapas, for which I recommend the place called "Siempre Igual":