Ronda - In which I climb some more mountains and gawk at a bridge

Sevilla is a pretty good springboard for a lot of Andalucía, so on Sunday Nick and I went to see Ronda. This cute little hill town in Málaga boasts absolutely amazing views, a rich history, and adorable roads to wander through. Before we even found the touristy section of town, we stopped at a park that perfectly showed off the natural beauty of this place. Although it looks like the town is on a plateau as you approach it by bus, it is actually built on the side of a cliff, something you become increasingly aware of as you explore the many "miradores," or viewing points. 

The old town and the new town is divided by an incredibly beautiful bridge over a deep gorge. Though the bridge is crowded with tourist traffic between the new town with the bus station and the old town, with the museums and restaurants, locals still take time to sit on the beautiful benches overlooking the mountains and people watch as foreigners peak curiously around the corners of their town.

 

This bridge is no joke, however. The drop is absolutely breathtaking as is the view of the bridge itself. It is best obtained by hiking down the side of the cliff, a thrill which is mostly taken by the young as the path can get a bit steep and rocky and the trek back up takes your breath away, but not in the fun "this is so beautiful" kind of way. However, it is well worth the effort.

 

Below the bridge is a beautiful pool of view clear, bluish green water. If you look closely enough, you can see the algae growing on the rocks feet beneath the water surface.

 

The natural beauty is perfectly complemented by the beauty of the town. With many winding roads and old white buildings, it is a charming village to get lost in, with hidden gems around every corner.

 Ronda has done a good job of capitalizing on its many views by creating lots of viewing points, parks, and multi-layered gardens from which you can see the mountains, their many bridges, and the water below. This was by far one of my favorite day trips. If I sound a built like a travel guide advertising a vacation, it is only because I was so enamored with Ronda while visiting it. It's true, I'm a sucker for anything in a mountain range, but the added charm of the town simply made this a stop that I would recommend to anyone who wants to see Andalucía.