Ronda is divided in half by a river gorge, more than 500 feet deep, bridged by Puente Nuevo, one of the most photographed structures in Spain. Its old town has been declared Property of Cultural Interest. Celts, Phoenicians, Romans and Arabs all inhabited these lands, which were reconquered by the Catholic Monarchs.

On one side of the bridge is the old Moorish town with a medieval layout is scattered to the south of the Guadalevín with many historic buildings including the House of the Moorish King, one of the main attractions in Ronda. On the other side is El Mercadillo, a spectacular recent urban development, the part which sprang up after the 16th century, unfolds to the north of the course of this river. Several bridges unite the two halves of one of the most interesting towns on the route of the Whitewashed Villages.

One of the most beautiful spots in Ronda is Plaza Duquesa de Parcent, of Arab origin. Ronda`s Plaza de Toros is the oldest bullfighting ring in Spain.