Ronda - Puente Nuevo

Ronda was known to the Romans by the name of Arunda. At the end of the Roman Empire it was taken by the Suebi and later part of the Visigoth realm. In 713 it fell to the Berbers, who built a castle on the Roman foundations. The troops of the Marquis of Cádiz conquered Ronda after a siege in 1485.

The Spanish decreed that all Muslims must either convert to Christianity or leave Spain without their belongings. Muslims who converted were called Moriscos, they had to wear upon their hats a blue crescent. In 1566 Philip II decreed the use of the Arabic language illegal, required that doors open on Fridays to verify that no Muslim Friday prayers were conducted. This led to a rebellion. The Muslim soldiers defeated the Spanish army sent to suppress them. The massacre prompted Phillip II to order the expulsion of all Moriscos in Ronda.

Ronda´s Moorish old town, La Ciudad, is located on a steeply sloping rock plateau. The old town is separated from the younger part, El Mercadillo, by the "Tajo de Ronda" a narrow gorge almost 100 meters deep, formed by the Guadalevín River.

Three bridges span the "Tajo de Ronda", the chasm, that cuts through Ronda.

The "Puente Nuevo" is the newest and largest of these bridges . The architect was José Martin de Aldehuela (1729–1802), who as well worked on the bullring (prev. photo).

The construction of the "Puente Nuevo", today an emblem of Ronda, was started in 1759. It took 34 years to complete the bridge. The first attempt to span the gorge here started in 1735. Unfortunately, the in 1741 this bridge collapsed resulting in the death of 50 people.

The bridge seen in the morning light.