Looking like a fantastical town plucked right from the pages of Lord Of The Rings, Ronda is Malaga's most extraordinary town. Perched in a rather dramatic location on a plateau dotted by lush river valleys and bisected by the 100m fissure of El Tajo gorge, it is named for the fact that it is ‘surrounded’ by mountains. One of Spain's oldest towns, with Neolithic origins, it was first declared a city by Julius Caesar, though it didn't really begin to take shape until the 4th century AD. However, the appearance as it exists today owes itself to the period of Islamic rule and features mosques and palaces with distinctive ogives and other key architectural details of the period.
Famous around the world for its breathtaking appearance, the town's reputation gained serious momentum in the 19th century, when the Romantics fell in love with it and writers and artists began recording it in earnest. Since then, it has captured the hearts of the likes of David Wilkie, Alexandre Dumas, Rainer Maria Rilke, Ernest Hemingway and Orson Welles.
If you have found a vacation rental in Malaga and are planning a trip to the town, there is lots to see and do but there are some particular highlights that are worth mentioning.
To enter, you have to cross the iconic and stunning the 18th century Puente Nuevo, or “New Bridge”, which offers incredible views from the Alameda out over the Serranía de Ronda mountains. Once you have crossed over, you will suddenly feel as though you have stepped back through time where a cloistered 16th century convent is now an art museum, the streets are cobbled and handsome town houses are sometimes still occupied by Ronda's titled families. The leafy and lovely Plaza Duquesa de Parcent is surrounded a convent, two churches and other historic gems such as the charming arched council building, and is worth a visit for its picturesque beauty.
As Ronda is also famous as the birthplace of modern bullfighting, (celebrated in September during the Feria Goyesca), the Real Maestranza bullring is a must-see. One of the oldest and most picturesque in Spain, it was built in 1785 by the architect Jose Martin Aldehuela. The Mondragon Palace houses the municipal museum and has a lovely garden but it was built originally in 1314 by the Moorish King Abomelik, so there are plenty of reasons to drop by. For more wonderful views, the Cuenca Gardens and the Balcón del Coño viewpoint should not be missed.
Of course, wandering aimlessly in this city would be just as fulfilling as going in with a plan as there is something lovely and interesting around every corner. It truly is one of the most beautiful sight in all of Spain.
If you have found a vacation rental in Malaga and are planning a trip to the town, there is lots to see and do but there are some particular highlights that are worth mentioning.
To enter, you have to cross the iconic and stunning the 18th century Puente Nuevo, or “New Bridge”, which offers incredible views from the Alameda out over the Serranía de Ronda mountains. Once you have crossed over, you will suddenly feel as though you have stepped back through time where a cloistered 16th century convent is now an art museum, the streets are cobbled and handsome town houses are sometimes still occupied by Ronda's titled families. The leafy and lovely Plaza Duquesa de Parcent is surrounded a convent, two churches and other historic gems such as the charming arched council building, and is worth a visit for its picturesque beauty.
As Ronda is also famous as the birthplace of modern bullfighting, (celebrated in September during the Feria Goyesca), the Real Maestranza bullring is a must-see. One of the oldest and most picturesque in Spain, it was built in 1785 by the architect Jose Martin Aldehuela. The Mondragon Palace houses the municipal museum and has a lovely garden but it was built originally in 1314 by the Moorish King Abomelik, so there are plenty of reasons to drop by. For more wonderful views, the Cuenca Gardens and the Balcón del Coño viewpoint should not be missed.
Of course, wandering aimlessly in this city would be just as fulfilling as going in with a plan as there is something lovely and interesting around every corner. It truly is one of the most beautiful sight in all of Spain.