Ciudad+de+Ronda

Population:
Estimate of number of inhabitants in 2005 is 34,643.

Location and Altitude:
Ronda is located at the most northwest side of the province of Malaga (Andalusia - Spain), at a bassin surrounded by mountains standing together and with a middle altitude, giving to Ronda magical character, that, together with its climatic, hydrologic, vegetation and ground characteristics has influenced it among its rich and diverse history. Its altitude, depending on location, can be 600 to 700 meters above sea level.

**Weather:**
Enclosed by mountains, Ronda has a markedly different climate to that experienced along the Costa del Sol. The height above sea level, helps to keep the summer heat tolerable, but in the winter it can be grey, cold and sometimes wet.

**Tourist Information Center:[[image:http://www.quovadimus.org/spain99/ronda/400/99-09-27-rhondaptt.jpg align="right"]]**
Plaza de España, 1, 29400 Ronda. Tel: 652 8712 72

**Brief History:**
Despite being Andalucía's fastest-growing town - it overtook Córdoba in the big three Andaluz tourist attractions, behind Sevilla and Granada, in the early 21st century - Ronda retains much of its historic charm, particularly its old town. It is famous worldwide for its dramatic escarpments and views, and for the deep El Tajo gorge that carries the rio Guadalevín through its centre. Visitors make a beeline for the 18th century Puente Nuevo 'new' bridge, which straddles the 100m chasm below, for its unparalleled views out over the Serranía de Ronda mountains. Ronda is also famous as the birthplace of modern bullfighting, today glimpsed once a year at the spectacular Feria Goyesca. Held at the beginning of September, here fighters and some of the audience dress in the manner of Goya's sketches of life in the region. Legendary Rondeño bullfighter Pedro Romero broke away from the prevailing Jerez 'school' of horseback bullfighting in the 18th century to found a style of bullfighting in which matadores stood their ground against the bull on foot. In 2006 royalty and movie stars were helicoptered in for the Goyesca's 50th anniversary celebrations in its small bullring, while thousands jammed the streets and parks outside. Otherwise the bullring, Plaza de Toros, is now a museum, and visitors can stroll out into the arena.

**[[image:http://www.theguidetospain.com/spanish-wine.jpg width="260" height="203" align="left"]]Gastronomy:**
The gastronomy of Ronda is Andalusian and it is possilbe to find some of the best produce in the region such as olive oil, pork, cheese, fruits, and honey. The food in Ronda is charcterised by the use of Serrano ham, with plenty of dishes based on rabbit, artichokes, lamb, and beefo. There are also common Andalusian dishes done in the Ronda style, like gazpacho, fried breadcrumbs, partridge, omelette and trout. There is a great variety of soups here, and chestnuts are used in some of them. For pudding, the main Ronda dish is the famous yemas del tajo, an egg-based dish, with excellent pastries made locally in some of the closed-order convents and monasteries.

**Festivals:**
+ **Fiesta de la Virgen de la Paz-** (May) + **Patron Saint of Ronda**- (January 24th) + **Semana Santa**- Like all Andalucian towns, Ronda celebrates holy week with processions, most of which begin in the late afternoon and take hours to wind through the streets and alleys of the old city. + **Feria de la Reconquista**- (May 20th- 23rd)

Museums/Monuments/Places to see:
+ **Bullfighting**- The bullring in Ronda is called the Royal Cavalry Order of Ronda. + **New Bridge-** The New Bridge together with the bullring of the Royal Cavalry Order of Ronda are the symbol and soul of the city. There were two great ideas in order to built this bridge. The first of them was thought in 1735, being king Philip V, consisting of a 35 metres diameter arch, and whose works finished only 8 months later. Unfortunately, this bridge did not work, because it collapsed, bringing to death more or less to 50 people. A few years later the building of a new bridge was begun, in 1751, and it was finished in 1793. The building took more than 40 years.