Round and round Ronda

Ronda, one of the famous white villages of Andalusia, is a town with population of approximately 35 000, located up in the mountains of Serranía de Ronda. Those with no car can get here by train,at least from Malaga, Córdoba and Algeciras.

Bullfighting is said to have originated here. This was also the site for the first gathering of the Andalusian nationalists in 1918- a  significant meeting where the green and white Andalusian flag was adopted.

Flags from left to right: Andalusia, Spain and Benalmadena

After Reconquista, the Christian takeover of the Iberian peninsula, those following other religions were either expelled or forced to convert. Ronda became one of the hiding places where Muslims fled the persecution. 

First signs of inhabitation around Ronda can be traced to prehistoric times, but Ronda itself has been settled at least from 7th century BC. The people behind Ronda as we know it today, were (again) the Romans, who built it as a fortress during the Second Punic War. Man, those Romans got around.

Ronda has been trying to get on UNESCOs World Heritage list, but so far the honour has been denied.

The most significant sights are the bridges of Ronda. The spectacular views they offer render one weak at the knees. Both out of awe and vertigo.

This much I remembered from our first visit to Ronda a couple of years back. But this time, as I was trying to locate the most magnificent one through the viewfinder on my camera, I was lost.

"They can't have moved it?" I found myself wondering. At this point The Gentleman (with only marginal eye-rolling) had to helpfully point out that I was, in fact, standing on it. 

Yep- that's life with cotton candy brain for you...

The views were amazing and Ronda is definitely worth visiting. And now that our eyes and souls had been nurtured, it was our turn- off to the lunch then!