Ronda in winter

A chilly (4°) but sunny morning saw us heading on our first outing of 2009 to Ronda, a town about 45 minutes drive south of Olvera. The main reason to go was to visit a large supermarket called Supersol to get some Patak's curry sauces and also to visit a craft shop so that Anne could buy a decorative plate to hang on a wall in the house.

We arrived about 10.15 and parked the car in a Plaza in the old part of Ronda and walked up into the main town. The shops and cafe's were only just opening up so we carried on over the Puente Nuevo (New Bridge) to the new part of town to have a coffee....and warm up.

This is a view of the Restaurante Don Miguel. which in summer months is packed with people admiring the view of the bridge from the terrace. Not a single person braving it today though!.

Looking back towards the old part of town.

After coffee we walked the short distance to the Plaza del Socorro, a pleasant square just off the main shopping street. This is the Iglesia del Socorro.

Walking back into the old town we turned off immediately over the Puente Nuevo bridge to walk down the cobbled Calle Santa Domingo. The craft shop is at the top of the street but it was closed.

This street also leads down to the Puente Viejo (Old Bridge), one of the two original crossings across the river.

A view of Ronda and the Iglesia de Nuestra Padre Jesús in the centre from the bottom of Calle Santa Domingo.











This is the Archway of Philip V built in 1742.

The Puente Viejo, built in the 16th century, to join the old Moorish settlement with the newer quarter across the river.
Just across the Old Bridge is the entrance to the Jardines de Cuenca which wind their way by a series of terraces up the side of the gorge.

The view of the Casa del Ray Moro (House of the Moorish King) seen across the gorge from the park.

Just posing..........trying to pretend it's not freezing.











The Puente Nuevo from the top of the gardens.

We left the park via a small gateway and walked back over the bridge hoping the craft shop would be open. This is definately the best time to visit Ronda, as in summer this area is generally packed with cars and tourists.







Much to Anne's delight, the shop was just opening up. So with mission accomplished we headed back to the car and home to Olvera.
This picture is of the Iglesia de Santa Maria la Mayor in the Plaza Duquesa de Parcent.