Ronda

171 wonders. It is a narrow gorge with sheer walls over 200 m deep. A railway tunnel cuts right through the rock and skirting the cliff is a dilapidated concrete walkway the Camino del Rey. Although dangerous in sections, it is still open, but extreme care should be taken. El Chorro can be reached by train on the Antequera Malaga line the view from the train isn't bad. Get off at El Chorro and follow the signs to the La Garganta.

Ronda Hotels

Hotel Enfrente Arte - Calle Real 40 Ronda 29400 Spain
Molino del Santo - Bda Estación s/n Benaojan Ronda 29370 Spain
Los Castanos - Calle Iglesia 40 Cartajima Ronda 29452 Spain
Hotel San Gabriel - Marqués de Moctezuma 19 Ronda 29400 Spain
Hotel Montelirio - Calle Tenorio 8 Ronda 29400 Spain
Parador de Ronda - Plaza de Espana S/N Ronda 29400 Spain
Hotel La Fuente De La Higuera - Partido de los Frontones Ronda 29400 Spain
El Juncal Hotel Ronda - Ctra de Ronda, El Burgo, Km 1 Ronda 29500 Spain
Hotel El Tajo - Doctor Cajal 7 Cruz Verde 7 Ronda 29400 Spain

Villages and towns hanging on the edge of cliffs are a Spanish speciality. You'll find them all over the country and Andalusia has its share. Ronda is one of the most spectacular. Split in half by a 150 m gorge, it sits precipitously surveying the surrounding countryside. One side of the ravine is the old Cindad, on the other side is the modern section of Ronda.

The gorge itself, Tajo, is spanned by an impressive feat of 18th century engineering a three arch bridge com plete with sentry box underneath. Its caged in vantage points afford dramatic views of the deep ravine and river below with the remains of the Arab mills. At sunset you can watch the kestrels and martens swooping and gliding in the air currents.

Ronda is often referred to as the birthplace of presentday bullfighting. Like Seville, it has one of the oldest and most beautiful bullrings in Spain. It was here that the rules of combat for modern corridas were laid down between the 17th and the 18th century by successive generations of the Romero family.

Ronda has also attracted a succession of celebrities. Bullfighting aficionado Orson Welles loved the place and his ashes are buried on a bull farm outside the town. Ernest Hemingway spent time here and in his novel For Whom the Bell Tolls describes such Civil War atrocities as victims being thrown off the bridge alive. Earlier still, the Austrian poet Rainer Maria Rilke wrote his "Spanish Trilogy" here. Much more recently, Frederico Rosi used the bullring in his filming of the opera Carmen. its proximity to the Costa del Sol makes Ronda perfect for day trippers. After the coaches and crowds have gone, however, it assumes a altogether well worth waiting for different atmosphere

GETTING YOUR BEARINGS

Ronda is divided into two by the narrow gorge and linked by three bridges. On one side is the original Moorish settlement with its characteristic streets known as the Cuidad. Most of the towns historic monuments are located here. Across the Puente Nuevo is the Mercadillo district, which grew up after the Reconquest. The bullring is in this part, close to the Plaza de Espana, as is the commercial centre around Plaza del Socorro and Carrera Espinel. Farther out still are the bus and train stations.

A GUIDED TOUR

Start from the Plaza de Toros (Close to the tourist office), a beautiful colonnaded bullring dating from 1781/5, rivalling Seville's as the oldest in Spain. By area, it's one of the largest in the country. You can wander round the ring and visit the small but interesting Museo Taurino. Every May corridas goyescas are held in 18th century costume.

Walk along Calle San Carlos, pass through Plaza de Espaiia, to the Puento Nuevo. The name means "New Bridge", and it was new in 1740, when it was built to replace an earlier version that collapsed. It was finished in 1788 and has been in use ever since.

Cross the bridge into the Ciudad. Turn left on the far side to discover the Casa del Roy Mor (Calle Marques de Pavaela, 17). Despite its name and Moorish foundations, this mansion dares from the 18th century. In the garden 365 steps forming an underground stairway called the mina descend to the bottom of the gorge.

Farther down the street, Pallacio Marques de Salvatierra is an elegant Renaissance mansion with two carved stone figures above its door. They supposedly represent Inca Indians. Guided tours every half hour.

Facing the building are the Puente Viejo and Puente San Miguel. The first bridge has horse shoe shaped arches and was built in 1616 on Roman or Arab foundations. The latter is single span and looks Roman in origin.

The domed roof of the Arab baths is visible beside the river. Although they are being restored, they can still be visited apply to the caretaker. Farther along the outskirts of town are the ruins of the alcazaba.

Take any turning into the heat of the Ciudad, and you'll soon reach the Iglesia de Santa Maria. Built on the site of the mosque, it still retains some Moorish features there is an arch inside the entrance and its bell tower was the former minaret. The rest is a mixture of Gothic and Renaissance styles. It is set in the lovely Plaza de la Duquesa de Parcent.