Dramatically set around a deep gorge, Ronda is a historic mountaintop town on the edge of La Sierra de Grazalema Natural Park in Spain’s Andalusia region. It’s famed for its jaw-dropping stone bridge and monumental bullfighting ring and boasts one of Spain’s most inspiring gardens.

Things to do

No visit to Ronda is complete without standing atop the Puente Nuevo, the 18th-century bridge that plunges 120 metres to the floor of El Tajo Gorge below. Stop at the main arch where a small exhibition details the bridge’s construction and use as a prison and torture chamber during the Spanish Civil War. For the best views of the bridge itself, visit the Sendero Los Molinos hiking area that hugs the banks of the Río Guadalevín below.

Another of Ronda’s famous landmarks is its Neoclassical bullring, the Plaza de Toros, which is officially named after Spain’s oldest order of horsemanship, the Real Maestranza de Caballería. Magnificently ringed by 68 arches, it is now used during the annual Pedro Romero festival. The on-site Museo Taurino details the history of bullfighting in Ronda and has vintage weapons and outfits on display.

For the most inspiring views in Ronda, visit Alameda del Tajo, a 19th-century garden that clings to a rock overlooking the Sierra de Grazalema mountains. Stroll along the tree-lined promenades and relax in the rose-adorned pergolas before witnessing an unforgettable sunset from the Mirador de Ronda.

Getting around

Málaga-Costa del Sol Airport is just over an hour’s drive from Ronda and has flights to destinations across Europe. Direct trains connect from Ronda to Cordoba and Madrid while buses travel to Malaga and Seville. Ronda is compact enough to explore on foot.