This little town situated high in the Serranía de Ronda Mountains is 698m above sea level and is one of the oldest and most aristocratic places in Spain. Its near impregnable position kept the Catholic troops at bay until 1485, and its main attraction is the deep Tagus Gorge which is spanned by three bridges over the Guadelevín River. On both sides of it you can see houses clinging to the cliffs that look as though they might fall into the chasm at any time.
The town of Ronda and its surrounding mountains were legendary hideouts for bandits and smugglers. The El Tajo, a 100m ravine divides Ronda into two distinct parts: La Ciudad is to the south and is the Moorish Old Town with a labyrinth of streets and alleyways which are flanked by attractive whitewashed houses with wrought iron balconies. The newer town of El Mercadillo is to the north. This sprang up after the Christian Reconquest and is filled with a number of attractions, including the Plaza de Toros.
It takes about half a day at most to see Ronda, and the best time to visit is in the spring when the orange and almond trees are in full bloom.
