The natural drama of Ronda will leave you breathless! Ronda is divided in half by a steep river gorge which falls a sheer 130 m on each side. There is spectacular arched bridge crossing the gorge, where, according to our tour guide, the Arabs and the Christians used to keep their prisoners. The main attraction of this white-washed town, is the extraordinary views of the valley and the many walking possibilities. Also, if you have the extra money, a stay in the Ronda Parador, a beautiful hotel leaning from the gorge’s precipitous edge, is heavenly.

The relaxing atmosphere of Ronda was a great break from some of the more tourist-ridden places in Spain.  Ronda is easy to get to by train from Madrid or regional trains and is a good day trip from the Costa del Sol resorts. 

For budget travellers, the Hostel/Hotel RondaSol is a really cheap bet (about €10 per night each) for 2 people sharing a double room with sink.  This family-run place was a pleasant addition to our trip and the mother of the family at least speaks fluent French as well as Spanish.