Sweet Ronda, Spain (Photos)

There she is in the distance, a cluster of whitewashed homes with terracotta roofs perched atop a cliff in a lush, Spanish countryside; straight out of a fairy-tale.

Located in southern Spain, Ronda is just over an hour away from Malaga by car. The town itself is split into two sections divided by a beautiful and massive bridge.

On one side lies the old village and on the other a newer, more modern town has cropped up. I prefer the older of the two with its uneven, winding streets. There it is easy to get lost and found.

In September each year, catch the Corrida Goyesca, an annual festival of matadors in Ronda’s bullfighting ring the first ring in all of Spain. Ernest Hemmingway and Orson Welles spent many a summer here writing about the beautiful sites and the rough bullfighting tradition.

If that’s not for you, maybe Flamenco music and dance is a better choice. Many of the most famous Flamenco artists have come from Ronda. And each year in August, the Cante Grande festival is held showcasing the finest Flamenco singers and musicians in the region. There is nothing like that Spanish guitar.

But I wasn’t there during September or August, or during any festival. I was there during the spring with one of my best girlfriends. And our itinerary was rather bare. We were content to simply wander the streets and roam the country side – inhaling the spectacular beauty.

It was quite nice sunbathing atop an old tower where lovers once made their devotion known.

It just felt right having a picnic among the wild flowers and olive trees.

And napping in the grass was definitely a highlight.

In Ronda, it felt like the clocks moved slower, the greens seemed greener and the land felt alive. We were only going to spend one night there. But we ended up spending a total of three because we just couldn’t say goodbye so quickly.

If you are looking for a place to stay in Ronda, I suggest Baraka B&B. The owner is very helpful and her establishment is a sweet Bed and Breakfast perfectly situated in the old town.