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There are such a lot of causes to plan a household vacation in southern Spain, together with the seashore resorts of the Costa del Sol, in addition to Marbella and Malaga – however by some means it’s straightforward to miss the attractive historic city of Ronda with children.
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Round 30 miles from the coast, not removed from Andalucia’s Sierra de las Nieves mountains, it’s excellent for a day journey.
Though with so many issues to do in Ronda with children, you may simply spend longer – from the well-known towering Puente Nuevo bridge to the historic Arab baths, a strolling tour of Ronda and viewpoints galore.
Puente Nuevo
When you do nothing else throughout your loved ones day trip in Ronda, you could marvel at its bridge – the Puente Nuevo (or New Bridge) is Ronda’s predominant attraction.
One in every of three bridges stretching throughout the El Tajo gorge dividing the town, it is perhaps the latest bridge, however it nonetheless dates again to 1759 – a alternative for a earlier ‘new’ bridge which had collapsed six years after it was completed.
Rising 98 metres above the Guadalevin River on the backside of the 120 metre deep chasm, there are numerous viewpoints to take in the sight of the bridge hovering excessive above the river mattress.
Begin by wandering excessive of the bridge and searching on the surrounding countryside from the Aldehuela viewpoint or the Mirador de Cuenca, earlier than heading down into the valley to see the arches towering above you.
Not removed from the Almocábar Gate, there’s a viewpoint close to Plaza de María Auxiliadora, which is simple to achieve in case you’re exploring Ronda with children and don’t fancy an extended hike within the Spanish solar.
The very best views are from the underside of the gorge, with the twisting path snaking all the way down to the Mirador del Puente Nuevo, and different viewpoints, in case you fancy the stroll.
There’s a little museum and interpretation centre contained in the bridge too – the Centro de Interpretación del Puente Nuevo has extra particulars in regards to the bridge’s historical past and development, and you’ll even look down into the gorge. The chambers contained in the bridge itself have beforehand been used as a jail and a guard-house.
You should purchase a mixed ticket for a number of sights together with the Interpretation Centre, Mondragon Palace and Arab Baths, on-line or on the vacationer info centre
Mondragon Palace
It’s price visiting the Ronda Municipal Museum for its buildings alone, however you’ll additionally discover a museum in town tucked away within the Mondragon Palace.
Constructed within the early 14th century by the Moorish rulers of Ronda, the positioning was additionally later the residence of King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella after they conquered the city, and there are some fantastically embellished rooms, shady courtyards and little balconies hidden away behind the stone facade.
Whereas it’s not as intricate because the Alhambra in Granada, there’s an identical really feel – a lot of cool locations to flee the Spanish warmth, little fountains and luxurious gardens, plus some beautiful views to the mountains.
Throughout the palace, you may hint the historical past of Ronda from the world’s prehistoric inhabitants to Roman settlement, Arab rule and extra trendy occasions, with sculptures, stone artefacts, tombs and even recreated Stone Age dwellings.
There are just a few alternatives to get arms on, though it’s not significantly interactive. You’ll discover some info in English too, though it’s typically restricted – however the shows are nonetheless sufficient to seize children’ creativeness for a brief go to. Because it’s solely a small museum, you’ll most likely spend lower than half an hour inside.
When you’ve heard about Ronda’s bandit museum, it’s not based mostly within the metropolis and the gathering has moved to a brand new location – scroll down for extra particulars
Banos Arabes (the Arab baths)
One in every of my favorite locations to discover in Ronda with children – and never simply because the Banos Arabes had been deliciously cool after the new Spanish solar.
The Arab Baths are additionally left over from when Ronda was underneath Moorish rule, and baths had a ritual in addition to a sensible objective.
Initially subsequent to the principle entrance to the town, you may nonetheless see the stays of among the outdated partitions across the baths advanced.
The primary sight is a little bit of an odd one, with unusual mounds seen together with glass panels – however while you get inside, you uncover they’re the domed ceilings of rooms with star-shaped skylights to light up the baths.
After a reception room with its personal pool, the place individuals might chat and have a drink, the collection of rooms is much like Roman baths, with a succession of sizzling and cooler rooms.
Look out for the oven which heated the steam in one of many saunas close to the doorway, and the chimney used to funnel it away, to maintain the temperatures down within the cooler rooms.
There’s additionally a video within the last room giving some extra background, plus some gardens outdoors, whereas you may as well see the waterwheel, which might have offered the water for the baths – powered by donkey, it introduced water immediately from the river far beneath.
Puerta de Almocabar and the Arab Partitions
Whenever you see the stays of the town partitions which as soon as protected Ronda, you may perceive how the town repelled invaders for hundreds of years.
And it’s properly price taking a stroll round to see among the outdated partitions, and the spectacular Puerta de Almocabar.
With the gorge and river appearing as a pure barrier on one facet, the partitions didn’t solely encircle the town, however as a substitute stuffed the susceptible gaps. When you’re visiting the Arab Baths, the wall would as soon as have stretched from the Puente Arabe south so far as the Almocabar gate.
Climb down from Casa del Rey Moro by the arch of Felipe V, previous the baths, and wander alongside Calle Molino de Alarcon to see some extra of the stays of the fortification, together with Murallas de la Cíjara earlier than you attain the gate (or you may stroll it in reverse after all).
Then you may stroll again alongside Calle Espiritu Santo, by the winding outdated streets, in direction of the Mondragon Palace and finally to Calle Arminan to carry you again throughout the bridge.
La Casa del Rey Moro
One other fascinating Moorish constructing – the Casa del Rey Moro, or residence of the Moorish king – was constructed within the 14th century, however one of the crucial attention-grabbing issues about this explicit web site is discovering its crafty water pumping system, which as soon as equipped water for the city.
Reaching all the way in which all the way down to the Guadalevin River 60m beneath, there’s a staircase reduce into the rock if you wish to go part-way down.
There are over 200 steps, however the platform has an amazing view, together with out to the countryside round – as soon as a significant guard put up to look out for assault.
The fortress was designed to stop the water provide being reduce off, and should have been a secret escape route too. There are legends of buried treasure right here as properly, though the engineering marvels are the true gem somewhat than gold.
Gaze out from one of many viewpoints
You’ll be able to hardly transfer in Ronda with out discovering one other great viewpoint – not simply of the well-known bridge, but in addition of the encompassing countryside. These are just a few of the perfect.
Aldehuela viewpoint
To 1 facet of the Puente Nuevo, you may look throughout on the bridge, in addition to down into the valley, plus some beautiful views of the buildings lining the gorge.
Mirador de Cuenca
Not removed from the Mirador Aldehuela, there’s one other nice view throughout the bridge and into the gorge from this facet.
Mirador Puento Nuevo
Stroll down from the Plaza de Maria Auxiliadora to the primary viewpoint for a improbable view of the bridge from beneath. You’ll be able to head additional down for viewpoints nearer to the river, however go ready with water and attempt to keep away from the most well liked a part of the day.
Mirador La Hoya del Tajo
A little bit additional on, this viewpoint may also be reached by highway in case you don’t need to stroll there, and appears throughout in direction of the decrease arches.
Mirador de Ronda (La Sevillana)
Not removed from the vacationer workplace and bullring, this viewpoint appears out onto the gorge and the encompassing countryside.
Calle Pastor Divino
A few minutes from Heladeria e’Gelato, it is a good place to move and eat your ice cream, with views of the rooftops and Ronda’s whitewashed buildings.
Jardines de Cuenca
These beautiful and weird gardens on the sting of city are an amazing place to go and relax for a bit between exploring.
Devoted to Ronda’s twinned metropolis of Cuenca, the gardens are stretched throughout a collection of terraces on the cliff edge, searching to the Tajo gorge and all the way down to the river beneath – it’s additionally among the finest viewpoints to see the Puente Nuevo.
With rose gardens and palm bushes dotted alongside the shady paths, it’s not a park as you would possibly count on it, however it’s much more memorable than your common backyard. The Cuenca gardens are additionally typically referred to as the Mina Gardens.
If you need extra conventional inexperienced house in Ronda, there’s one other park close to the vacationer workplace, by the Mirador de Ronda, or the Parque de San Rafael additionally has a play space, however it’s at the very least a 20-minute stroll from the vacationer workplace, heading away from the Previous City
Take a children’ tour
In case your children love a problem as they discover, cease off on the vacationer workplace close to the Plaza de Toros and choose up a children’ tour map with 12 areas to identify and stickers to mark them off as you go.
There are additionally some actions on the again, together with a dot-to-dot puzzle, phrase search and drawing problem, in case you fancy attempting to sketch out the Puente Nuevo (or anything) alongside the way in which.
The Previous City is gorgeous merely to wander round, with all of the whitewashed homes alongside the little cobbled streets, grand church buildings like Santa Maria la Mayor, the historic Moorish websites and all the nice viewpoints.
Half the enjoyable is getting barely misplaced and seeing what you uncover across the subsequent nook, however it is a nice choice to preserve kids going in the event that they become bored with strolling!
When you’re visiting with older children, there’s additionally an audioguide tour of Ronda sharing info on its lengthy historical past in addition to taking you to among the key sights (additionally obtainable from Viator), or you may as well be part of a guided strolling tour of Ronda
Eat ice cream
Whether or not you’re rewarding everybody for a stroll (or bribing them to go), or just need to calm down when you’re having fun with a day in Ronda with children, you’ll be spoiled for alternative in case you’re on the lookout for ice cream.
We had been really helpful Heladeria E’Gelato by an area as the perfect place to go, and whereas it’s a bit of farther from among the ice-cream outlets which line the vacationer coronary heart of Ronda, it’s properly price in search of it out.
You’ll discover a lot extra uncommon flavours in addition to the classics too.
Strive a conventional cake
When you choose cake to ice cream – or each! you might be on vacation – then search out one in every of Ronda’s conventional pastries.
Yemas del Tajo, a candy egg cake which was initially made in a convent in Ronda, is offered underneath the identical identify at Las Campanas bakery (though you’ll discover related choices underneath related names elsewhere).
Or you may nonetheless purchase ‘convent sweets’ within the Iglesia de Nuestra Senora de la Merced, on Calle Carlos Cobo Gómez. The small bakery is simply behind the church, and also you’ll discover a worth checklist tacked up subsequent to an alcove. Ring the buzzer, inform the nuns what you need, and place your cash in it – it should flip, and your order will seem as a substitute (with any change).
For extra conventional pastries – and usually scrumptious candy treats – save a while for a cease at Confiteria Daver as properly.
Take a horse and carriage experience
Sure, it’s touristy however a horse and carriage experience of Ronda is all the time enjoyable to do with children, plus it’s a great way to discover on a sizzling day (do take a hat although).
You’ll be able to choose up the carriages close to the bullring, and the journeys normally final solely round half-hour so it’s very a lot a fast introduction somewhat than an in-depth tour – though that’s reassuring when it comes to the horses’ welfare as properly.
Count on to pay round 25 to 40 Euros for the expertise, though prices could differ relying on the time of yr and the way many individuals are in your group – count on to suit round 4 into the carriage, though in case your kids are youthful, you may squeeze as much as 5.
The Plaza de Toros – bullfighting enviornment and museum
One in every of Ronda’s most well-known sights can also be one in every of its most divisive – the Plaza de Toros, or the bullfighting enviornment.
Ronda is named the birthplace of bullfighting and the sector right here is among the oldest in Spain, relationship again to the 18th century. Created by the identical architect behind the Puente Nuevo, it’s a formidable design, with some stunning particulars.
It’s additionally residence to a museum with shows sharing info on the historical past of bullfighting and its place in Spanish tradition, in addition to the occasions happening within the enviornment itself.
My animal-loving daughter flatly refused to set foot inside, nonetheless culturally vital it is perhaps, however whether or not you propose to go to or to keep away from it, it’s very near the vacationer workplace so arduous to overlook.
Extra issues to do close to Ronda
For lots of people who’re visiting Ronda with children, it’s as a day journey from the Costa del Sol. However in case you’re staying in Ronda itself, there are many enjoyable issues to do close by.
Sierra de Grazalema Pure Park
There’s some great surroundings round Ronda, together with the Sierra de Grazalema Pure Park, solely a brief drive away from the city.
Stretching for nearly 130,000 acres, there are mountaineering trails, in addition to caverns and it’s additionally residence to colonies of vultures, together with endangered species, in addition to uncommon fir bushes.
You’ll be able to seek for family-friendly trails and mountaineering paths right here.
The Roman ruins at Acinipo
Typically referred to as Ronda la Vieja, or outdated Ronda, this former Roman metropolis is believed to have been based by retired troopers who the Roman legions who settled within the space.
Now an archaeological web site, you may nonetheless discover the previous theatre at Acinipo, in addition to seeing the stays of Roman baths and prehistoric homes predating the Romans, in addition to having fun with the views of the Sierra de Grazalema Pure Park.
Round half an hour from Ronda by automobile, you do have to make use of some creativeness to carry the traditional stones to life. You’re unlikely to spend greater than an hour right here at most, so it’s greatest to mix with a go to to the pure park – do verify opening hours earlier than you go, because it isn’t open every single day.
Bandit museum, El Borge
Ronda’s personal Bandit Museum, beforehand on Ronda’s Calle Arminan, has now moved to a brand new location – however in case you had your coronary heart set on visiting, it’s potential to go to it as a part of a day journey to El Borge, close to Málaga.
Telling the story of among the area’s most feared outlaws, in addition to some who reduce extra dashing heroic figures and others straight from legend, the shows embrace pictures and paperwork in addition to loads of tales which owe extra to romance than actuality.
It’s one of many largest collections on the historical past of banditry, protecting the interval between the seventeenth and nineteenth centuries, together with the gathering of the previous Bandolero Museum in Ronda.
Malaga
For older children, the massive draw of Malaga is perhaps its artwork – the house of Pablo Picasso, one spotlight is a go to the Picasso Museum.
There’s additionally historical past to find together with Roman websites and the well-known Alcazaba, a Moorish fortress constructed within the eleventh century. You’ll be able to nonetheless discover inside right now, in addition to the ruins of the Castillo de Gibralfaro, one other Moorish fort.
Go to the seashores of the Costa del Sol
The coast right here is deservedly well-known for its limitless golden sands – and string of vacationer resorts. Whether or not you fancy Fuengirola, Marbella, Puerto Banus, Estepona, Nerja or Benalmadena (to call just a few), it’s straightforward to spend a day on the seashore.
There are additionally a string of family-friendly vacationer sights, together with water parks, amusement parks, aquariums and zoos, in case you’re on the lookout for a break from the historical past and heritage of Ronda with children.
Take a look at among the greatest issues to do within the Costa del Sol with children, together with household sights and days out
The place to remain in Ronda with children
When you’re on the lookout for your personal house, I’m a fan of the hand-picked flats and villas from Plum Information, together with some in Ronda itself in addition to others in straightforward driving distance.
Or there are additionally flats and villas, in addition to resorts in Ronda with children on reserving.com if you wish to keep inside strolling distance of the principle sights.
Disclosure: This put up comprises affiliate hyperlinks – any purchases you make are unaffected however I’ll obtain a small fee
Pictures: View from the gorge/Bullring/Sierra de Grazalema/Acinipo/Malaga courtesy of Depositphotos, all different pictures copyright MummyTravels
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