There are many beautiful major cities in hinterland Málaga. One of them is Ronda. It is a very old town boasting an interesting heritage, perched over a vertigo-inducing gorge in the Genal valley. These are the five things you cannot miss in Ronda.
Ronda Gorge – New Bridge. The New Bridge across the Gorge is one of Ronda’s most iconic images. Dating back to the eighteenth century, the bridge connects the historic district to the more recently developed parts of town. What makes it really special is the views it affords of the Gorge, known as ‘El Tajo’ in Spanish, a rocky ravine that is 100m deep and makes the bed of the river Guadalevín.
Royal Cavalry Armoury. Ronda’s bullring is one of the oldest and most spectacular bullfighting sites in Spain. The 66m ring is surrounded by the grandstands, laid out in five rows preceded by 136 Tuscan columns and 68 arches. Below the grandstands, the building houses the Bullfighting Museum, whose collections illustrate the history of the Royal Cavalry and of Spanish nobility. Interesting items include the collection of old guns and pieces from the Royal Saddlery of the House of Orleans.
Arab Baths. Ronda’s Arab baths were built in the days of Muslim rule, back in the thirteenth and fourteenth centuries. They are well preserved and still charming – and really popular with tourists. They are located in the district of San Miguel, in the suburbs, a stopping point for most visitors. Taking after the Roman model, the Arab baths include three different rooms, for hot, warm and cold water.
Cuenca Gardens. Developed 40 years ago, these gardens in Ronda pay tribute to Cuenca, which has been Ronda’s twin city since 1975. They were carved into the same shape as the meandering Tajo, over which they stand, featuring lots of curvy shapes and stairs. In addition, they offer panoramic views of the Palacio del Rey Moro (Moor King’s Palace), the House of the Counts of Santa Pola, the Convent of Santo Domingo and, of course the Gorge and the New Bridge.
Historic district. A tour of downtown Ronda will show you such wonders as the Mondragón Palace, housing the Municipal Museum of Archaeology, the Casa del Gigante (a Nasrid building from the thirteenth or fourteenth century), the Joaquín Peinado Museum of Contemporary Painting, the Bandit Museum, the Lara Museum of Art and Antiques and the Wine Museum. To meet local people and try local cuisine, you should pick a traditional bar and order roasted kid goat, chorizo with liquor, or partridge or rabbit Ronda-style. If you come to Ronda, you will never forget your experience in hinterland Málaga.
Serranía de Ronda is one of the trendiest wine regions in Malaga. It has the highest concentration of wineries in Costa del Sol, including some of the most exclusive wineries in Malaga. Two such wineries include: Bodega Descalzos Viejos (which was built in an old oratory of a 16th-century Trinitarian Convent) and DV Minima (which produces a sweet botrytis wine that isn’t very common in southern Spain). Making it extra special, visits to Descalzos Viejos include tastings and tours led by professional winemakers.
Another one, Bodega Doña Felisa, has earned a “Certified Quality” seal because it uniquely bases the cultivation of its wine on a control process called “integrated viticulture,” which monitors the progress of the grapes from the time they are planted until the moment the wine is served at the table. One ambitious winery, Bodegas La Melonera, serves high-quality wines and conducts an impressive number of research and strain recovery projects. At Cortijo Los Aguilares, 100% pinot noir wines are made from grapes picked in organic Spanish vineyards and are repeatedly ranked as some of the best in the world. Need more suggestions? Try visiting Bodegas Excelencia, Bodegas Lunares, Bodegas Joaquín Fernández (Finca Los Frutales) and Bodega F. Schatz—they are just some of many wineries you’re sure to fall in love with in Serranía de Ronda.
