That's Ronda, not Rhonda...
Ronda is third after Granada and Cordoba as most visited cities in Spain according to Clive Muir, my guide on this leg of my trip. Made popular by Ernest Hemingway and Orson Welles, among others, I decided that while I was in western Andalucía, I needed to see what all the buzz was about. Ronda did not disappoint-- it's built high atop the mountains overlooking an amazing gorge, just under 3000' elevation. I won't go into its lengthy history, you can read about that on Wikipedia. Bullfighting was first started in Ronda and the rules established whereby the matador would fight the bull on foot, rather than on horseback. There are two bridges, built at various stages in its history, making it one of the most unique Spanish villages I have had the privilege to visit. The scenery is incredibly beautiful, lush green hillsides right up against the mountains of the Sierra de las Nieves. Apparently that are is the wettest in all of Spain but still has 300 days of sunshine. When it does rain, it pours.
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| Tajo Gorge above Río Guadalevín |
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| Newest bridge built in 1793 to connect old and new--Parador hotel perched atop |
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| Oldest bridge--centuries old |
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| Puente Nuevo |
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| Lots of Moorish influence in tilework |
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| Off the Andalucía website--what a stunning backdrop |
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