In the province of Malaga, a project is currently underway to make this region of Spain even more remarkable. Work is underway to create a new walking route – located at the bottom of a ravine.
El Tajo ravine and Puente Nuevo bridge
Tens of thousands of tourists flock to the Andalusian town, punctuated by a deep ravine, every year. What makes Ronda one of the more unusual places on the Iberian Peninsula is the deep ravine of El Tajo, through which the Guadalevín River flows. Welles and Hemingway fell in love with Ronda, and now it’s your turn. Visitors to the town can already reach the bottom of the ravine by taking the famous walking route.
This trip gives a slightly different perspective on the city’s symbol – the Puente Nuevo bridge. The structure, designed to unite the walls of a ravine and two parts of the city, was built in 1735. It took about eight months to complete and after six years of use the bridge… collapsed. The subsequent construction took as long as 42 years! The currently functioning crossing is almost 100 metres high.
New route for tourists
Meanwhile, thanks to a €1.6 million investment, it is possible to view the El Tajo gorge from a whole new perspective. The investment began with a 250-metre section of footpath, starting at Plaza María Auxiliadora and running to the foot of the Puente Nuevo bridge, providing exceptional views. This has also improved the safety of tourists who choose to explore the El Tajo ravine.
An entrance ticket for the new trail costs €5, and as many as 600 tickets were sold in the first 24 hours alone. The municipality is preparing for the second stage of the project – a new trail will be created at the very bottom of the gorge, and the route will eventually be 750 m long.
The project involved the well-known Spanish architect Luis Machuca, who is the creator of the famous path among the rocks – the Caminito del Rey – leading to El Chorro. Ronda’s authorities agree that the new attraction will attract tourists to a city that years ago inspired artists – such as Ernest Hemingway and Orson Welles.
