Three bridges cross the Tagus Gorge: the main one being the Puente Nuevo where can enjoy spectacular views of Ronda and its surrounding countryside. This is Ronda's most famous bridge and was an architectural marvel when it was constructed between 1755 and 1793. A lantern-lit parapet graces the bridge, and over the years many people have fallen to their deaths from here, including the original architect who did so during an inspection. During the Spanish Civil War it was a place of execution for Franco's troops or the rebels (depending on which group was controlling Ronda at the time). Ernest Hemingway recorded how prisoners were thrown alive into this deep gorge in his book For Whom the Bell Tolls.
Ronda's two other bridges are both north of the Puento Nuevo and include the Puente Viejo (Old Bridge) which dates back to 1616, and the single-span Moorish bridge, Puente de San Miguel.
Entry to Ronda is via by two ancient gates, the 13th-century Puerta de Almocobar and the 16th-century Puerta de Carlos V.
In the centre of the Moorish quarter you will find the Iglesia de Santa María de la Encarnación la Mayor which is a collegiate church that acts as a cathedral. Like many churches in Andalusia, Santa María is a reconstruction of a former mosque resulting both the interior and exterior featuring a mix of architectural styles. Outside you can see Moorish, Gothic, and Renaissance influences with a belfry constructed on top of the old Moorish minaret. Inside are late Gothic naves and a main altar heavy decorates in baroque gold leaf with a Plateresque chancel and an arch covered with Arabic calligraphy. Admission is free and the church is open daily May to October from 10.00am to 8.00 pm (daily 10.00am-6.00pm in the low season).
East of the church is the Moorish tower, Minarete de San Sebastián, which is part of the original Great Mosque of Ronda dating back to the 14th century.
The Palacio de Mondragón was originally the 14th-century private home of the Moorish King Abomelic. But after the Reconquest it was renovated to receive King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella. Inside are three courtyards and a collection of Moorish mosaics. It has a beautiful carved wooden ceiling and a small museum which houses artefacts devoted to regional archaeology. The restored mudéjar courtyard offers panoramic views of El Tajo with the Serranía de Ronda looming in the background. Open Monday to Friday from 10.00am to 7.00pm, Saturday and Sunday 10.00am to 3.00 pm. Admission free for children under 14.
The Cueva de la Pileta is 25km southwest of Ronda, plus a 2km hard climb. It has been compared to the Caves of Altamira in northern Spain where prehistoric paintings were discovered toward the end of the 19th century. In a wild area known as the Serranía de Ronda, José Bullón Lobato (grandfather of the present owners) discovered this cave in 1905. It is over a mile long filled with beautifully shaped stalagmites and stalactites, as well as five fossilized human skeletons and two animal skeletons. Prehistoric paintings depict animals in yellow, red, black, and ochre. One of the highlights is the chamber of the fish which as a wall painting of a great black seal-like creature about one metre long. This chamber is in the heart of the cave and ends in a precipice that drops vertically nearly 75m. Tours are given daily from 10.00am to 1.00pm and 4.00 to 6.00pm (Sept-June 10.00am-1.00pm and 4.00-5.00pm).
