Ronda is split in half by a sheer river gorge that drops 120 metres — one of the most dramatic townscapes in Spain. The Puente Nuevo, a spectacular arched bridge spanning the chasm, connects the old Moorish town to the newer districts and offers dizzying views of the valley below. The gorge walls are near-vertical, with the white houses of the old city perched right at the edge.
The white-washed old town (La Ciudad) has a relaxed atmosphere, a welcome contrast to the tourist-heavy coast. Ronda's Plaza de Toros is one of the oldest bullrings in Spain and the birthplace of modern bullfighting as a pedestrian art. The Palacio de Mondragón — a former Moorish palace — now houses the city museum and has the best gorge-edge garden terrace in the city. The well-preserved Arab Baths below the old town are among the finest Moorish bathhouses in Andalusia.
The gorge itself is excellent for walking — paths descend from the Down the Gorge trail below the Mondragón, with views up to the bridge and across the surrounding sierra. The Museo Lara, a private collection of clocks, weapons, and witchcraft artefacts, is an oddity well worth an hour.
Ronda is easy to reach by train from Málaga or from Madrid, making it a good day trip from the Costa del Sol. But it truly rewards an overnight stay — the Parador, perched right on the gorge edge, has one of the most extraordinary positions of any hotel in Spain.