Ronda, Spain - October 23-25

Ronda is the largest and best known of Andalucia's Pueblos Blancos. It rests upon a hill and a large gorge cuts down the middle of it. The hilltop setting provides amazing views of the Sierra Nevadas.



Throughout history there have been three bridges that cross over the gorge, but the most recent Puente Nuevo is the largest and most ambitious. On our first day there we climbed down a path into the gorge to see it from the bottom up.





One of the cities sights is an old passage that goes down to the river in the gorge and was used to get water when the city was under siege. It provides a little different perspective of the gorge.



The town itself is pretty picturesque as well. Something I remembered from my one night there on my last trip is that it has amazing sunsets.





Ronda is also home to Spain's oldest active bullring (since 1784) and is considered to be the birthplace of modern bullfighting.



The best preserved Arab baths in Spain are also in Ronda. After spending an afternoon in a recreated Arab bath in Cordoba, it was interesting to see the layout of a real one.



While in Ronda we stayed at the Hotel San Gabriel. The former residence of a nobleman, it is very well appointed and includes a wine cellar bodega. Although it does not have views of the gorge and the surrounding scenery, the atmosphere and amenities were excellent and the service was more attentive and sincere than pretty much any other place we stayed on the trip and the price was much more reasonable than the parador and other accommodation with views. Highly recommended.