Centro de Interpretación del Puente Nuevo
Ronda’s greatest architectural achievement is the towering bridge that spans the El Tajo gorge. The town’s citizens petitioned the crown for a new bridge in 1542, but two centuries passed before technology had advanced enough to attempt it. The first bridge on this spot opened in the 1730s but collapsed soon after, killing 50 people. The current 98m (320-ft.) structure was begun in 1759 and took 34 years to build, requiring the intervention of the master architect José Martín de Aldehuela to complete the job. The visitor center is in a former prison cell within the bridge and is worth a visit as much for its setting and views of the turbulent waters as for its exhibits. Interactive screens are light on information but show some interesting old pictures of Ronda and its extraordinary bridge.
Ronda’s greatest architectural achievement is the towering bridge that spans the El Tajo gorge. The town’s citizens petitioned the crown for a new bridge in 1542, but two centuries passed before technology had advanced enough to attempt it. The first bridge on this spot opened in the 1730s but collapsed soon after, killing 50 people. The current 98m (320-ft.) structure was begun in 1759 and took 34 years to build, requiring the intervention of the master architect José Martín de Aldehuela to complete the job. The visitor center is in a former prison cell within the bridge and is worth a visit as much for its setting and views of the turbulent waters as for its exhibits. Interactive screens are light on information but show some interesting old pictures of Ronda and its extraordinary bridge.
Details
Bookstore
Available as paperback
and as e-book.
