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 someway it’s straightforward to miss the beautiful historic city of Ronda with children.
accommodates affiliate hyperlinks*
Round 30 miles from the coast, not removed from Andalucia’s Sierra de las Nieves mountains, it’s good for a day journey.
Though with so many issues to do in Ronda with children, you can 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
For those who 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 principal attraction.
Certainly one of three bridges stretching throughout the El Tajo gorge dividing the town, it could be the latest bridge, nevertheless it nonetheless dates again to 1759 – a substitute 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 absorb 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 straightforward to achieve if you happen to’re exploring Ronda with children and don’t fancy an extended hike within the Spanish solar.
One of the 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, if you happen to 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 building, 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 points of interest together with the Interpretation Centre, Mondragon Palace and Arab Baths, on-line or on the vacationer data 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 location 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 – plenty of cool locations to flee the Spanish warmth, little fountains and luxurious gardens, plus some beautiful views to the mountains.
Inside the palace, you possibly can hint the historical past of Ronda from the world’s prehistoric inhabitants to Roman settlement, Arab rule and extra fashionable occasions, with sculptures, stone artefacts, tombs and even recreated Stone Age dwellings.
There are a couple of alternatives to get arms on, though it’s not notably interactive. You’ll discover some data in English too, though it’s generally 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.
For those who’ve heard about Ronda’s bandit museum, it’s now 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)
Certainly one of my favorite locations to discover in Ronda with children – and never simply because the Banos Arabes have 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 goal.
Initially subsequent to the principle entrance to the town, you possibly can nonetheless see the stays of a number of 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 sequence 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 exterior, whereas you can even see the waterwheel, which might have supplied the water for the baths – powered by donkey, it introduced water immediately from the river far beneath.
Puerta de Almocabar and the Arab Partitions
While you see the stays of the town partitions which as soon as protected Ronda, you possibly can perceive how the town repelled invaders for hundreds of years.
And it’s properly price taking a stroll round to see a number of the outdated partitions, and the spectacular Puerta de Almocabar.
With the gorge and river performing as a pure barrier on one aspect, the partitions didn’t fully encircle the town, however as a substitute stuffed the weak gaps. For those who’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 can stroll it in reverse in fact).
Then you possibly can stroll again alongside Calle Espiritu Santo, by the winding outdated streets, in direction of the Mondragon Palace and finally to Calle Arminan to convey 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 vital attention-grabbing issues about this specific 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 minimize into the rock if you wish to go part-way down.
There are over 200 steps, however the platform has an incredible view, together with out to the countryside round – as soon as an important guard put up to look out for assault.
The fortress was designed to forestall the water provide being minimize off, and will have been a secret escape route too. There are legends of buried treasure right here as properly, though the engineering marvels are the actual gem quite than gold.
Gaze out from one of many viewpoints
You may hardly transfer in Ronda with out discovering one other great viewpoint – not simply of the well-known bridge, but additionally of the encircling countryside. These are a couple of of the most effective.
Aldehuela viewpoint
To at least one aspect of the Puente Nuevo, you possibly can 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 aspect.
Mirador Puento Nuevo
Stroll down from the Plaza de Maria Auxiliadora to the primary viewpoint for a implausible view of the bridge from beneath. You may 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 bit additional on, this viewpoint can be reached by street if you happen to don’t wish 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 seems to be out onto the gorge and the encircling 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 incredible place to go and sit back for a bit between exploring.
Devoted to Ronda’s twinned metropolis of Cuenca, the gardens are stretched throughout a sequence 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 best 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, nevertheless it’s way more memorable than your common backyard. The Cuenca gardens are additionally generally known as the Mina Gardens.
If you would like extra conventional inexperienced area 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, nevertheless it’s at the very least a 20-minute stroll from the vacationer workplace, heading away from the Outdated 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 places 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, if you happen to fancy making an attempt to sketch out the Puente Nuevo (or the rest) alongside the way in which.
The Outdated City is beautiful 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 hold youngsters going in the event that they get tired of strolling!
For those who’re visiting with older children, there’s additionally an audioguide tour of Ronda sharing data on its lengthy historical past in addition to taking you to a number of the key sights, or you can even be a 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 wish to settle down when you’re having fun with a day in Ronda with children, you’ll be spoiled for selection if you happen to’re searching for ice cream.
We have been really helpful Heladeria E’Gelato by an area as the most effective place to go, and whereas it’s slightly farther from a number of the ice-cream retailers 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.
Attempt a standard cake
For those who want cake to ice cream – or each! you might be on vacation – then hunt down considered one 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 title at Las Campanas bakery (though you’ll discover related choices underneath related names elsewhere).
Or you possibly can 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 value checklist tacked up subsequent to an alcove. Ring the buzzer, inform the nuns what you need, and place your cash in it – it’s going to 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 journey
Sure, it’s touristy however a horse and carriage journey of Ronda is at all times enjoyable to do with children, plus it’s a great way to discover on a sizzling day (do take a hat although).
You may 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 quite 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 might 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 youngsters are youthful, you can squeeze as much as 5.
The Plaza de Toros – bullfighting enviornment and museum
Certainly one of Ronda’s most well-known points of interest can also be considered one of its most divisive – the Plaza de Toros, or the bullfighting enviornment.
Ronda is named the birthplace of bullfighting and the world right here is likely one of the oldest in Spain, relationship again to the 18th century. Created by the identical architect behind the Puente Nuevo, it’s a powerful design, with some stunning particulars.
It’s additionally residence to a museum with shows sharing data on the historical past of bullfighting and its place in Spanish tradition, in addition to the occasions going down within the enviornment itself.
My animal-loving daughter flatly refused to set foot inside, nevertheless culturally important it could be, however whether or not you propose to go to or to keep away from it, it’s very near the vacationer workplace so laborious 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 if you happen to’re staying in Ronda itself, there are many enjoyable issues to do close by.
Sierra de Grazalema Pure Park
There may be 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 mountain climbing 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 may seek for family-friendly trails and mountain climbing paths right here.
The Roman ruins at Acinipo
Generally known 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 possibly can 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 automotive, you do have to make use of some creativeness to convey 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 examine opening hours earlier than you go, because it isn’t open on daily basis.
Bandit museum, El Borge
Ronda’s personal Bandit Museum, beforehand on Ronda’s Calle Arminan, has now moved to a brand new location – however if you happen to had your coronary heart set on visiting, it’s doable to go to it as a part of a day journey to El Borge, close to Málaga.
Telling the story of a number of the area’s most feared outlaws, in addition to some who minimize extra dashing heroic figures and others straight from legend, the shows embrace photographs 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, masking 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 could be 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 may nonetheless discover inside as we speak, 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 infinite golden sands – and string of vacationer resorts. Whether or not you fancy Fuengirola, Marbella, Puerto Banus, Estepona, Nerja or Benalmadena (to call a couple of), it’s straightforward to spend a day on the seashore.
There are additionally a string of family-friendly vacationer points of interest, together with water parks, amusement parks, aquariums and zoos, if you happen to’re searching for a break from the historical past and heritage of Ronda with children.
Try a number of the greatest issues to do within the Costa del Sol with children, together with household points of interest and days out
The place to remain in Ronda with children
For those who’re searching for your personal area, I’m a fan of the hand-picked residences and villas from Plum Information, together with some in Ronda itself in addition to others in straightforward driving distance.
Or there are additionally residences and villas, in addition to motels in Ronda with children on reserving.com if you wish to keep inside strolling distance of the principle sights.
Disclosure: This put up accommodates 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 photographs copyright MummyTravels
