The cliffs of Ronda.

Ronda, Spain

Felix Wong's avatar
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If there was only enough time for a day trip to either Nerja or Ronda from Malaga, Spain, which one would you visit?

Andrea posed this question to her friend Marina while we were in Malaga. Marina did not hesitate: Ronda. Her response surprised me because many people on the Trip Advisor forums mentioned Nerja. Unlike Ronda, it is on the coast—and who does not like being around crashing waves by a beach?

But Marina was a local, so we took her word for it and boarded a train for Nerja from Malaga (via Antequera) the next day. When we got off the train, we wondered if we had committed a mistake as rain fell out of the sky.

We ducked into a nearby coffee shop and drank café con leche as we waited out the storm. Forty-five minutes later, the skies opened up. The weather was pleasant the rest of the day.

We then followed an itinerary described by Voyage Tips. It was written up in November 2021 and was excellent. Thanks to that web page, we visited the following places in this order:

  1. Plaza de Toros de Ronda
  2. Ronda Viewpoint
  3. The Puente Nuevo
  4. Ronda’s Mondragón Palace
  5. Duchess of Parcent Square
  6. An Unusual Visit: The Bandit Museum (we did not go inside)
  7. Puerta de Almocabar and the Arab Walls
  8. Ronda’s Arab Baths
  9. La Casa del Rey Moro
  10. Plaza del Socorro

Our walking route is below. Unfortunately, I forgot to record the first kilometer from the train station to the Plaza de Toros de Ronda.

Strava

I saw one comment on Trip Advisor that the Puente Nuevo was overrated. Hogwash! This “new bridge” was lovely, even if the shockingly muddy waters beneath were not.

Felix and Andrea in front of the Puente Nuevo.
Felix and Andrea in front of the Puente Nuevo.

Just as stunning were the panoramic views from the bridge, the Paseo de los Ingleses, and the various miradors. I thought the vistas from Malaga were spectactular, but these were on an even higher level.

The cliffs of Ronda.
The cliffs of Ronda.

We were outside the Casa del Rey Moro when a young lady with an American accent exclaimed, “Going down the mines were totally worth it.”

After hearing her endorsement, we bought some tickets and headed inside. It wasn’t raining outside, but water was still leaking through the ceilings of this mine that descended at least 100 feet. Andrea and I opened our umbrellas.

Andrea walking down the Water Mine.

“This is the first time I’ve needed to use an umbrella inside a building,” I remarked. Still, it was very much worth it.

After doing the self-tour of Ronda, we enjoyed a lunch of chicken and potatoes, some sort of dish drenched in a red sauce, bread and beer at the Restaurante Don Miguel that was situated right next to the Puente Nuevo. We had a couple hours to relax and this was a perfect spot for it.

Marina was right. Ronda was a fascinating town that was more beautiful and delightful than Nerja, which went to the next day.

Andrea in front of the bullfighting ring in Ronda.
Andrea in front of the bullfighting ring in Ronda.
The view of the land west of Ronda from the Alameda del Tajo.
The view of the land west of Ronda from the Alameda del Tajo.
Andrea on the Paseo de los Ingleses.
Andrea on the Paseo de los Ingleses.
Felix walking down a path west of the Puente Nuevo.
Photo by Andrea
Felix walking down a path west of the Puente Nuevo.
Felix and Andrea at another viewpoint of the Puente Nuevo.
Felix and Andrea at another viewpoint of the Puente Nuevo.
The cliffs of Ronda.
The cliffs of Ronda.
Andrea on one of the Roman walls of Ronda.
Andrea on one of the Roman walls of Ronda.
View of a stone path leading down to fields with the white houses of Ronda in the background.
View of a stone path leading down to fields with the white houses of Ronda in the background.
Andrea in front of the door that is part of the Palacio de Mondragón.
Andrea in front of the door that is part of the Palacio de Mondragón.
Flowers hung outside of the windows of a white house in Old Town of Ronda.
Flowers hung outside of the windows of a white house in Old Town of Ronda.
A Roman wall around the Iglesia del Espiritu Santo.
A Roman wall around the Iglesia del Espiritu Santo.
The Roman Walls and white houses of Ronda.
The Roman Walls and white houses of Ronda.
Andrea walking on a path towards the Baños Árabes and Puente Viejo with white houses of Ronda in the background.
Andrea walking on a path towards the Baños Árabes and Puente Viejo with white houses of Ronda in the background.
Andrea near the Baños Árabes of Ronda.
Andrea near the Baños Árabes of Ronda.
Andrea underneath an arch near the Puente Viejo in Ronda.
Andrea underneath an arch near the Puente Viejo in Ronda.
Andrea inside the Casa del Rey Moro.
Andrea inside the Casa del Rey Moro.
The muddy water of the Guadalevin River through a canyon.
The muddy water of the Guadalevin River through a canyon.
The Jardines de Cuenca at the Casa del Rey Moro.
The Jardines de Cuenca at the Casa del Rey Moro.
Andrea holding an umbrella and facing a door near the Plaza del Socorro.
Andrea holding an umbrella and facing a door near the Plaza del Socorro.
Felix at the Plaza del Socorro.
Felix at the Plaza del Socorro.
Felix at the Don Miguel restaurant by the Puente Nuevo.
Felix at the Don Miguel restaurant by the Puente Nuevo.