Ronda's New Bridge

The Puente Nuevo (New Bridge) in Ronda, Andalusia, is an 18th-century stone arch bridge spanning the El Tajo gorge — a sheer limestone canyon approximately 120 metres deep carved by the Guadalevín River through the centre of the town. Despite its name, the bridge is the newest of three bridges connecting the two halves of Ronda and was completed in 1793 after 42 years of construction; an earlier attempt collapsed in 1741. The bridge stands 98 metres above the gorge floor and rests on a central arch flanked by two smaller arches, all constructed from locally quarried limestone. A chamber within the bridge was used historically as a prison, and later as a café; it now houses a small interpretation centre documenting the bridge's construction history. Ronda itself is one of the most dramatically sited towns in Spain, perched on a plateau divided by the gorge; the bridge physically and symbolically connects the old Moorish quarter (La Ciudad) with the newer commercial town (El Mercadillo). The best views of the bridge are obtained from the Camino de los Molinos — a footpath that descends into the gorge from near the Puente Viejo and reaches the valley floor where the full span of the Puente Nuevo against the cliff face can be photographed from below. The descent takes approximately 20 minutes and is steep. The bridge is equally photogenic from the mirador on the Paseo de Blas Infante on the opposite rim of the gorge, and from the hotel balconies of the Parador de Ronda which perches directly on the gorge edge. Ronda also claims importance in bullfighting history — its Plaza de Toros is one of the oldest in Spain.