I decided to spend most of my time in Spain finding out what the mountains of Andalucia had to offer. I headed north from Mαlaga to the beautiful old town of Ronda, birthplace of modern bullfighting and home to the Puente Nuevo, the jaw-dropping bridge that joins the mountains on either side of the El Tajo gorge. It's a spectacular place and turned out to be a great base for travelling around the smaller villages and towns of the area. The main drag in Ronda, along Calle Jerez, is full of stand-up cafes, tapas bars, and stores selling cool cookware, food and tourist goods. Below are a few of the places I went that really stood out for me.
Where jamie went
The bullring in Ronda is right in the middle of the old part of town, and it's definitely worth stopping by for a look. There's a little museum inside where you can buy really great limited edition bullfighting prints and books. If you're new to the whole history and culture of bullfighting like I was it's a great way to get a basic understanding of it. Some of the local kids in Ronda take matador classes so if you're lucky you might get to see some of these guys in action.
PS I should probably mention that the tourist office is right next door so if you get lost head there for some help.
Real Maestranza de Caballeria de Ronda
Virgen de la Paz 15 29400 Ronda (Malaga)
Telefono: 952 874 132 Fax: 952 870 379
www.rmcr.org
Before I visited Ronda, I'd never thought of putting pastries and nuns together, but turns out they're a match made in heaven! This beautiful basilica is just down the road from the bullring in Ronda and it is home to the Carmelite order of nuns. Go through the side door and you can order the loveliest homemade cakes and pastries through a revolving wooden window. The nun on the other side takes the order and a few minutes later the door swings round and you get these gorgeous pastries and your change. Such a cool experience.
Convent La Merced Iglesia de Nuestra Senora de la Merced
Plaza de la Merced
29400 Ronda
La Casa del Jamon, or house of ham, is a great little shop dedicated to one of the products Spain does so well: cured ham. This family-run business is on one of Ronda's main streets just down the road from the convent. I got a crash course in traditional ham slicing here and I'd definitely recommend stopping by and trying some of their incredible cured meats.
La Casa del Jamon
Calle Jerez, 28
29400 Ronda
Tel: 95 287 15 96
www.lacasadeljamon.net
Like the rest of Spain, there is no shortage of tapas bars in Ronda. I have a soft spot for this one it's slightly out of the way, but the food is tasty, the beer is cold, and the ladies behind the bar are absolutely lovely.
Almocabar
maps.google.co.uk
Plaza Ruedo Alameda, 5
29400 Ronda, Spain
952 87 59 77
Forums
If you've been to Andalucia, share your foodie finds with us.More city guides
Buy the book
