Ronda is in the news at the moment!
The town where I chose to live 17 years ago is hitting the news a lot lately. Hardly surprising. After four decades spent discovering Spain, it's the place I decided to emigrate to. I should clarify that I mean the Serrania de Ronda. On arrival in 2008 I lived in Montejaque for three years, before my new second wife and I decided we needed more space, a garden and a pool.
We considered Gaucin, Algatocin and Cortes de la Frontera before settling on the pedania of Fuente de la Higuera, a rural spot 10 minutes from Ronda. And more importantly for people of our age, just 15 minutes from a good hospital.
Gaucin, El Balcon de la Serrania
Ronda cut off!
The main road from Ronda to the coast was severed during the heavy storms earlier this year. Teams of constructors have worked flat out to get the route open again.
One lane was re-opened yesterday, 14 July, way ahead of schedule.
In another month the road should be fully open again.
Disaster on the A397 [unattributed]
More here:
Ronda cut off! - Eye on Spain
Ronda cut off! - Help me, Ronda
Stop Press:
Relief at reopening of Ronda-San Pedro road: 'After four months of two-hour detours, it is heaven' | Sur in English
Ronda-San Pedro road reopens after four months of intense work following major landslide | Sur in English
Ronda's desfiladero
This is the council-backed project to create a walkway along the base of the Tajo, the gorge which cuts through the huge rocky plateau on which Ronda sits, dividing the Arab Old Part from the more modern part of town. The final phase is now underway.
This is a crucial element in the tourism strategy for the City of Dreams (Ciudad Soñada).
More here:
Callejero de Ronda.net - Camino del Desfiladero del Tajo de Ronda
Caminito del Tajo de Ronda, pasarela por el desfiladero del Tajo
The Camino del Desfiladero del Tajo Gorge Walk in Ronda - Ronda Today
Visitors delighted as Ronda opens first stage of new gorge walk tourist attraction to the public | Sur in English
Ronda and los toros
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Ronda is synonymous with bullfighting. It has the oldest bullring in Spain and is the home of several dynasties of bullfighters. Some of the top toreros were from here: Antonio Ordoñez, Paquirri, Fran Rivera, Cayetano.
Fans such as Ernest Hemingway and Orson Welles were often here. Indeed, Welles' ashes are interred at a finca near the town. Hemingway was famously here with Ava Gardner.
More here:
La alcaldesa anuncia que se cancela la Feria y Fiestas de Pedro Romero
Pedro Romero Fair and Festival: 3rd to 8th September 2024 - Ronda Today
Ronda Wines
We are fortunate to live slap bang in the middle of several top bodegas.
Our next-door neighbour is Badman Wines, and not far away are Joaquin Fernandez, Gonzalo Beltran, Friedrich Schatz, Descalzos Viejos, and Bodega Kieninger.
Friedrich Schatz, Jr
More here:
Days of (Ronda) Wine… and Roses - Secret Serrania de Ronda
Put a cork in it! - Olive Press News Spain
Ronda Olives
Olives are an important industry in the Serrania de Ronda - olives as well as olive oil.
In 2024 a new visitor centre, designed by Philippe Starck, opened its doors to the public, adding a further tourist attraction to Ronda's tourism strategy.
La Almazara [Photo: Sierra de las Nieves]
More here:
La Almazara: Oleoturismo y Aceites Ecológicos
LA Almazara Olive Oil Mill, Ronda - by Philippe Starck | Andalucia.com
Philippe Starck's organic olive oil mill experience in Ronda is now a reality | Sur in English
Ronda Olive Oil Experience - Days Out Andalucia
Ronda's Puente Nuevo
After a delay from the original January launch date, Ronda’s controversial Puente Nuevo vehicle restrictions will officially take effect on August 1, 2025.
As of that date only owners of cars registered in Ronda will be allowed to drive across the Puente Nuevo, the emblematic 19th century bridge which links the Arab Quarter (Casco Antiguo) to the Ciudad Moderna, the newer part of town.
This has thrown up a number of questions:
- What about residents, like me, whose cars are not registered in Ronda?
- What about residents of nearby villages who work in Ronda or do their shopping there?
- What about tourists who are staying in hotels in the Old Part?
As with politicians the world over, they didn't bother about the detail.
More here:
Ronda cerrará el Puente Nuevo a vehículos no residentes en 2025
Tráfico aclara varias cuestiones sobre la nueva regulación del tráfico en el eje Armiñán-Puente Nuevo – Ayuntamiento de Ronda
When will strict new traffic restrictions come into effect on Ronda's historic Puente Nuevo bridge? | Sur in English
Ronda bus station
Construction of the new bus station in Ronda started in early 2021 and was scheduled to be completed and opened to the public in February of 2023. However, the project has been affected by many delays due to lack of funding, corruption scandals and opposition at various political levels.
[SUR in English]
Ronda Council's decision to move the bus station to a new site on the Poligono Industrial has met with fierce opposition from all quarters.
"A waste of money!"
"Too cramped!"
"Yet another mayoral vanity project!"
Most people feel that the present site is better. All the current estacion de autobuses needs is sprucing up at much less cost.
Too late now, the new bus station is nearing completion.
More here:
Ronda's new bus station 'will be ready in 18 months' | Sur in English
The new bus station in Ronda - Ronda Today
Última fase de construcción de la nueva estación de autobuses | Diario Ronda
Ronda swimming
The construction of a new open air swimming pool near the LIDL store in Ronda and the demolition of the existing indoor pool on Avenida de Malaga have caused more headaches for Maripaz Fernandez, mayor of Ronda, and her team.
La nueva piscina [Ronda Today]
Accused of being a vanity project, the new pool makes little sense, as it only opens from mid-June to mid-September, coinciding with the long school summer holiday.
That means it is SHUT FOR NINE MONTHS OF THE YEAR!
Un elefante blanco.
[Photo courtesy of Wikipedia]
Ronda Housing
A major housebuilding project which will provide 365 new homes, is well under way on the northern outskirts of the "Ciudad del Tajo".
The sloping site, derelict and abandoned, is being prepared. The services are in place, streets have been delineated and foundations prepared ready for the pre-fabricated units to be delivered and installed in situ.
More here:
La Junta retoma el proyecto de las 365 viviendas de protección oficial de La Dehesa tras llevar 14 años paralizado | Diario Ronda
Ronda Tourism
Ronda attracts tourists from all over the world, as well as from other parts of Spain.
The problem is that a good proportion of visitors are day-trippers who are herded round the streets of the centre and leave very little money behind.
For decades, no council, of whatever polical hue, has been able to "crack" the problem.
Nevertheless, there's loads to do in the City of Dreams.
More here:
Everything you should know about Ronda - Discoolver
My Top 10 places in Ronda - Secret Serrania de Ronda
One Day in Ronda: The Ultimate Itinerary for First-Time Visitors
Ronda: The Andalucian city that stole Hemingway’s heart — and might just steal yours - Olive Press News Spain
Top 10 places to visit in Ronda During Your Stay - Ronda Today
Ronda Culture
The guy who wrote on Facebook, that he didn't like Ronda because of the lack of culture, must be nuts!
There is loads going on here, so much so that it's difficult to keep up.
There is drama, classical music, musicals, flamenco, rock, pubs with live music, not to mention the various local fiestas when they do not hesitate to get the Virgin out and do a desfile.
More here:
Conciertos de La Muralla - Portal Temático Serranía de Ronda
Cultura – Ayuntamiento de Ronda
Entre Bambalinas Ronda
PROYECTO PLATEA - Marcos Marcell
Ronda Flamenca – Tablaos flamencos en el centro de Ronda
Ronda International Guitar Festival 2025
© Pablo de Ronda
Photos:
Diario Ronda, Entre Bambolinas, Karl Smallman, Proyecto Platea, Ronda Today, Secret Serrania, Sierra de las Nieves, SUR in English, www.andalucia.com
Acknowledgements:
Ayuntamiento de Montejaque, Ayuntamiento de Ronda, Diario de Ronda, Diario Sur, Karl Smallman, La Almazara, LA Organic, Pablo de Ronda, Paul Whitelock, Ronda Today, Secret Serrania, Sierra de las Nieves, SUR in English, Wikipedia, www.andalucia.com, www.help-me-ronda.com, www.rondatoday.com, www.theolivepress.es
Tags:
Antonio Ordoñez, Ayuntamiento de Montejaque, Ayuntamiento de Ronda, Cayetano, Diario de Ronda, Diario Ronda, Diario Sur, Entre Bambalinas, Fran Rivera, Karl Smallman, La Almazara, LA Organic, Pablo de Ronda, Paquirri, Paul Whitelock, Proyecto Platea, Ronda Today, Secret Serrania, SUR in English, Wikipedia, www.andalucia.com, www.help-me-ronda.com, www.rondatoday.com, www.theolivepress.es