Every Picture Tells a Story     August 2018

Puente Nuevo started 1751
Ronda, Andalusia, Spain

Puente Nuevo started 1751
Ronda, Andalusia, Spain

Ronda is a mountaintop city in Spain’s Malaga province that’s set dramatically above a deep gorge. This gorge (El Tajo) separates the city’s circa-15th-century new town from its old town, dating to Moorish rule. Puente Nuevo, a stone bridge spanning the gorge, has a lookout offering views. New town’s Plaza de Toros, a legendary 18th-century bullring, is one of the city’s most recognizable landmarks.

The Puente Nuevo (Spanish pronunciation: [ˈpwente ˈnweβo], "New Bridge") is the newest and largest of three bridges that span the 120-metre (390 ft)-deep chasm that carries the Guadalevín River and divides the city of Ronda, in southern Spain. The architect was José Martin de Aldehuela, who died in Málaga in 1802. The chief builder was Juan Antonio Díaz Machuca.

The construction of the newest bridge (the one that stands today) was started in 1759 and took 34 years to build.[1] There is a chamber above the central arch that was used for a variety of purposes, including as a prison. During the 1936-1939 civil war both sides allegedly used the prison as a torture chamber for captured opponents, killing some by throwing them from the windows to the rocks at the bottom of the El Tajo gorge. [2]The chamber is entered through a square building that was once the guard-house. It now contains an exhibition describing the bridge's history and construction.

Construction of the previous bridge started in 1735, this was the first attempt to span the gorge at this height and was completed by the architects Jose Garcia and Juan Camacho using a single arch design. Unfortunately, this bridge was quickly and poorly built and in 1741 the entire bridge collapsed resulting in the death of 50 people

 

 
 
From Puente Nuevo Puente Nuevo

Puente Nuevo From Puente Nuevo

Interior of Casa Del Ray Moro for 18th century Puente Viejo and new town

Old city gate Looking down on Puente Viejo
Old city gate Looking down on the Arabs Bath

The Roman Bridge Puente Viejo with new town beyond
The old Arabs Baths Ronda's Arab Walls

Puente Viejo Below the Arab Walls & Gate
Puente Viejo Puente Viejo

Special padding for narrow streets

 Puente Viejo
Old town street Church of the Holy Spirit

Plaza Del Socorro Spain's Oldest bullring built 1779
Plaza Del Socorro Our car park

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All Photography by Philip Illingworth