The Ronda bridge in a nutshell
The two halves of Ronda are connected by three different bridges. The Puente Nuevo, as the name indicates is the newest of these bridges and also the largest. This bridge was constructed in the 18th century and spans the 120-metre-deep canyon.
Construction took over 30 years and required two different architects to finish the job. Construction began in 1759 and ended in 1793. Within the bridge there is a peculiar chamber which has had several uses but mainly served as a jail cell! When the Spanish Civil War broke out, legend has it that both sides used this room as an interrogation room, where they would torture prisoners even throwing them out the window to their deaths if they didn’t get what they wanted.
The bridge had already claimed lives before. There was an earlier bridge built in the same place in 1735. This first bridge was poorly built with a single arch and in 1741 it collapsed killing 50 people.
Tours to visit the Ronda bridge
We would normally say that there is no need to join a tour to visit an open-air tour. However, after having being several times in Ronda and only have enjoyed a tour the during the last visit, we have to say it is worth it. To start it, guided tours are inexpensive or even free of charge. During the tour you will learn a lot about Ronda and also discover very interesting anecdotes about the Ronda bridge in Spain. Last but not least, the guides are experts and they know from where you can enjoy the best views of the bridge.
If you a limited budget on how much to spend on guided visits in Ronda, then our recommendation is to use your budget to visit the Ronda bullfighting ring (we recommend you have a look at our visitors´ guide to get ready for the visit) since it can only be visited with an entrance ticket. If budget is not so much of a concern, then joining a tour to visit the Ronda bridge makes perfect sense.