Ronda, Spain: The white city at 700m altitude in the 9th century BC Founded
Anyone traveling in Andalusia in the south of Spain should definitely pay a visit to the small town of Ronda. The city of 36,000, which sits enthroned at a height of over 700 meters, is characterized above all by its countless houses painted white and is therefore one of the “white villages” famous far beyond the Spanish borders. Especially in the summer months, Ronda attracts hundreds of thousands of tourists from home and abroad. The city was already in the 9th century BC. Founded in BC, it is one of the oldest cities in Spain.
Cathedral “Santa Maria la Mayor” and “Palacio Mondragón”
A long walk through the medieval old town “La Ciudad” with its many narrow streets and numerous well-preserved historical buildings is a real experience. One of the main attractions of Ronda is the Cathedral of Santa Maria la Mayor on the large town hall square. Due to the long construction period from 1485 to the end of the 17th century, the remarkable cathedral, which is by far the largest and most famous church in the city, combines several architectural styles. Both inside and out, the church house is characterized by countless elaborate decorations and numerous valuable pieces of jewelry. On the impressive front there is a large representative balcony. The cathedral also has a large bell tower. A visit to the Cathedral of Santa Maria la Mayor costs 4 euros for tourists, entry is free for locals. The renovated Palacio Mondragón with its beautiful courtyards and a large terrace in the historic quarter should not be missed when visiting Ronda. The city museum is now located in the former magnificent residence of the Moorish rulers. The renovated Palacio Mondragón with its beautiful courtyards and a large terrace in the historic quarter should not be missed when visiting Ronda. The city museum is now located in the former magnificent residence of the Moorish rulers. The renovated Palacio Mondragón with its beautiful courtyards and a large terrace in the historic quarter should not be missed when visiting Ronda. The city museum is now located in the former magnificent residence of the Moorish rulers.
Landmark “Puente Nuevo” and many museums
One of the most famous landmarks of Ronda is the so-called new bridge “Puente Nuevo” from the 18th century, which connects the old town with the new town. The 98 meter high and 70 meter long bridge crosses the famous deep “Tajo” gorge. Ronda is world famous as the cradle of Spanish bullfighting. The late 18th century bullring, located near the “Puente Nuevo”, was one of the first of its kind in Spain. Bullfights are still regularly held in the arena today. Apart from these events, the historical arena and the associated bullfighting museum, which is also extremely worth seeing, is open to visitors every day.
