Ronda and Setenil de las Bodegas
Ronda is one of the most beautiful (and visited!) Villages in Andalusia. Not far from Marbella (50 min), this village located on a rocky promontory offers a series of beautiful panoramas over the whole valley. Divided into 2 by the Guadalevin River, the Puente Nuevo bridge is famous for connecting the 2 sides of the El Tajo Canyon, 100 meters deep.
The village can be visited entirely on foot and one day is more than enough to discover all the attractions and places of interest.
What to visit in Ronda? Here is our list of 10 things to see in Ronda, with an itinerary to visit Ronda in 1 day.
1. BULLRING
I would suggest that you start your trip to Ronda with the Ronda Arena (in Spanish, Plaza de Toros de Ronda), one of the oldest arenas in Spain. Ronda is known to be the birthplace of bullfighting.
Built in 1785 by the same architect who built the Puente Nuevo, it can seat 5,000 spectators.
One of Spain’s best bullfighters founded the Ronda bullfighting school. You can visit the bullfighting arena and the museum, located at the same place.
All information for this visit is available on the official website of Ronda Plaza de Toros.
2. Ronda Viewpoint
From Plaza de Toros, take Paseo Blas Infante to the edge of the cliff. Start from the right side (ending in a dead end road) and follow it to the end, you will walk along the edge of the cliff and you can admire the splendid views of the valley below.
Then go back to the Ronda Panoramic Point. You will have the opportunity to be afraid on the walkway over the cliff, while you realize the exceptional situation of this perched village.
3. Il PuentE Nuevo
Continue to Plaza España and finally you will see the Puente Nuevo (the New Bridge), the main attraction of Ronda and the emblem of the city on all postcards! You should definitely cross the bridge and stop at the Aldehuela viewpoint.
Completed in 1793, after 42 years of construction, the Puente Nuevo crosses the valley and connects the historic center of the city with the modern part which were previously separated from the El Tajo valley and the Guadalevin River. This spectacular bridge is almost 100 meters high.
To get the best view from the bridge and take the perfect photo, follow Calle Tenorio until you reach Plaza de Maria Auxiliadora. A path will take you to the first panoramic point.
Be careful, the viewpoint is not well insured, so be careful where you put your feet and take care not to drop your camera! Every year, hundreds of cameras end up at the bottom of the ravine.
You can then go down to the second panoramic point which will allow you to see the bridge + the waterfall and the river that flows below it. A second chance to take some great photos!
4. Mondragón palace
The Mondragon palace, which mixes Moorish architecture (its patio) with Renaissance architecture in its last completed parts, was built in 1314. It was used by Queen Isabella and by King Ferdinand as the main residence when visiting Ronda.
Today it houses the Municipal Museum of Ronda, which presents a permanent collection on the history of the village and examples of Roman and Arab tombs. You can also visit the palace gardens which offer a splendid view of the historic center.
5. Piazza Duchessa di Parcent
Continue to Duchessa of Parcent square, considered one of the most beautiful squares in the city. It is surrounded by numerous monuments including the town hall, but the most remarkable is without a doubt the church of Santa Maria Maggiore.
The construction of this church took almost 200 years and presents a mix of Renaissance and Gothic styles. Enter as well to admire its nave and its Gothic-style columns, its 2-storey Renaissance-style choir and the splendid Baroque elements.
6. An unusual visit: The Bandit Museum
Yes, you read that right, there is a bandit museum in Ronda. It is located near Plaza Duquesa, on Calle Arminan. This museum traces the history of the region’s most famous outlaws through photographs, documents and anecdotes about their lives.
We will learn that among these there were bullfighters, flamenco singers and obviously smugglers. These men stole from the rich to help the poorest thanks to their spirit of justice. While generous, they were nonetheless merciless murderers.
A short and unusual visit that will teach you a lot about this little-known aspect of this location.
For more information on the visit, go to the official website of the museum (in Spanish).
7. La Puerta de Almocabar y las Murallas Arabes
What to visit in Ronda? Continue on Calle Arminan and Calle Cuesta de las Imagenes to Puerta de Almocabar, the ancient city gate.
Thanks to its geographical position, and thanks to its high walls and gates built during the Islamic period, Ronda was one of the most impregnable cities in Andalusia.
In Muslim times, the Puerta de Almocabar was the main entrance to the city and the largest gate. It is surrounded by two semicircular towers built for defensive purposes.
In the eastern part of the city it is possible to see other ancient walls, such as the Cijara Gate. In the western part, it is possible to see the walls of Albacara, built to protect the windmills. You will also see 2 other gates: the door of the windmills (Puerta de los Molinos) and the door of the wind (Puerta del Viento).
8. The Arab Baths of Ronda
In Ronda, among the places of interest you will find the Arab Baths of Ronda. Returning to Puente Nuevo, it will be possible to take a detour and head towards the Arab baths, located in the district of San Miguel. These are the most preserved ones that you can find in Spain.
Built towards the end of the 13th century, these are structured like the Roman baths, thus having a cold, warm and warm zone. Surprisingly, the hydraulic system is still almost intact today.
It is still possible to see the boiler used to heat the water. Take a look at the ceiling and you will notice the star-shaped air intakes directly inspired by the Alhambra in Granada and its bathrooms.
9. THE HOUSE OF THE MOORISH KING
Located on Calle Cuesta de Santo Domingo, this palace was built by the Moors in the 14th century, who installed an ingenious water pumping system here.
The mine’s water system flows along the entire gorge to the Guadalevin river. You can also take a staircase carved into the rock with 236 steps and which goes down 60 meters to reach a platform that will allow you to enjoy a very beautiful view.
As you go back, think of the Christian slaves who, every day, made this journey to go and get water.
You can also stroll through the sumptuous gardens of La Casa del Rey Moro (The House of the Moro King). Designed by a French architect, Jean-Claude Forestier (the same architect who built the Maria Luisa park in Seville), these terraced gardens with canals and fountains are simply wonderful. And also the view!
10. Socorro square
End your trip to Ronda with the Plaza del Socorro, a pretty little square surrounded by bars and restaurants with terraces. The ideal place to take a refreshing break at the end of this fantastic day of visits. You will enjoy a splendid view of the Church of Nuestra Senora del Socorro.
If you have more time
RONDA AND SETENIL DE LAS BODEGAS
In the surroundings of Ronda there are 3 other suggestive things that are worth visiting if you have more time and if you move independently with a car.
the “BODEGAS” , ANDALUSian cellars
Ronda was recently added to the official list of the Andalusian Wine Route. Hidden in the middle of nature, there are many small bodegas that produce excellent wines that are increasingly appreciated both nationally and internationally.
On the wine route there are about twenty institutions, and some of these offer visits to their facilities, with, of course, a wine tasting.
The 2 best known and most visited are Chinchilla Bodegas and Descalzos Viejos Bodegas, located inside a convent.
THE ROMAN RUINS OF ACINIPO
At 20 kilometers from Ronda you will find Acinipo, an archaeological site. It was once the capital of the region before being abandoned in favor of Ronda.
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The most preserved element of this site is its Roman theater. Its tiers were carved directly into the rock using a natural slope. You can also admire numerous Roman architectural elements and the remains of thermal baths and ancient aqueducts.
The setting is very beautiful with a view of the surrounding mountains and the Sierra de Grazalema.
SETENIL DE LAS BODEGAS
Setenil de las Bodegas, a city with a more unique than rare atmosphere, is part of the beautiful “Way of the White Villages” of Cadiz.
You may have seen its buildings under the rocks somewhere, as they are one of the best known images of Andalusia. The rocks are the protagonists of the daily life of Setenil de las Bodegas. For centuries, the inhabitants of the city have lived in caves protected by rocks and, today, it is the most famous attraction of Setenil, becoming one of the most unique tourist destinations in the Sierra de Cádiz.
It should be noted that the entire municipality was declared a historic-artistic site in 1985.