A few days before arriving in Ronda, I came across an article with 'Incredible places you never knew existed in Europe' on the CultureTrip website.....so since we were in the area (190 km) we decided to pay a visit to this mountaintop city so well-spoken. That's awesome, isn't it? To put your finger on the map and say 'I want to see this place' and after a couple of days, you are there!
Map to Ronda
The drive was very pleasant, we've crossed the green and yellow fields, with a much more airy landscapes and surrounded by less agriculture fields than the previous ride (check out the last post).....beautiful sights and quiet road..... until...
Snapshots from the road
...only 10 minutes have left to reach our final destination and we thought that nothing could ruin this trip...right?... well...imagine a perfect silence, you could only hear the dull sound of the engine and the mild wind blowing from time to time, but suddenly you start to hear some strange noises coming underneath the van....our first instinct was to look out the window to see what we are leaving behind on the road... nothing! good....but what could be? we didn't had the chance to stop immediately because it was a one lane road and we had already a 'train' made up of cars behind us. Slowly, we've continued our journey and when we finally stopped, we noticed that the external left tire decided to give up on the last mile and has deflated little by little...we felt somehow relieved when we saw that this was the cause of the noise. Luckily, we have two wheels on each side, so the one from the interior supported the weight till the destination. On the second day, we searched for the closest service to replace the tire and the problem was solved in minutes with no other incidents.
In Ronda, we've found a very nice place to park, helped by two locals, very close to the city's center and with a stunning view over the valley.
Great free parking spot in Ronda
The view from the parking over the valley during sunrise, daylight and sunset
In the morning, the countryside which surrounds Ronda looks like a painting of Bruegel the Elder with sound. While the donkeys capture the valley with their roar, the rooster wakes the rest of the yard and announce the arrival of the sun. Ah...and the smell of a chill and humid morning that announce a mild and sunny day is unforgettable...
The stunning landscape that captures your eyes early in the morning
Ronda is a mountaintop city in Spain’s Malaga province that set dramatically above a deep gorge. This gorge, El Tajo, separates the city’s circa-15th-century new town from its old town, dating to Moorish rule.
The amazing gorge with it's typically white houses
We've just wandered through the city, with no specific destination in our mind. The city is quite small, so you have time enough to discover it by foot. A mandatory stop is at the Mirador where you have a beautiful panoramic view and make sure you look for the enormous stone bridge, Puente Nuevo, that separates the old town from the new. Take a look on both sides of the bridge, the view is fantastic and you'll need someone to stop you from taking pictures!
Mirador and the sights
The white houses on the cliffs are so charming and it gives you a great feeling when you look down the deep valley (if you are sick of highs, better don't look!). After crossing the bridge, you'll enter in the medieval village, with narrow and shadowy streets... prepare yourself for some ups and downs!
Magnificent Puente Nuevo
Ronda's Arab Baths and the labyrinth of streets
At lunch time we've stopped for a tapas and fresh sangria at Don Miguel Restaurant which offers you a spectacular view over the cliffs and of course, a warm sun to cheer up your day. The staff was very attentive with us, however you might wait a bit due to the high customer flow.
Restaurante Don Miguel
We had only one 'to do' in our mind as mandatory while visiting the city, to walk down the hill, find the perfect spot to admire the bridge and discover the countryside of the valley. We had to walk down maybe 10 -15 minutes for the perfect view of the bridge and then, we followed the gravel street that guided us into the beautiful valley.
Puente Nuevo seen from the bottom
We've witnesses such a beautiful dusk and warm light during our walk through the olive groves and the newly cultivated fields.
What we loved the most in Ronda was not the city itself, but the amazing surroundings and breathtaking sunrises and sunsets.
Driving through the Andalusian curvy mountain road to Tarifa, we've bumped into these little and charming white villages.
Our next stop is at the ferry station for a jump in Morocco! Coming soon! :)
