New Bridge Ronda (Puente Nuevo)
The New Bridge in Ronda taken in dramatic evening light as the Sun sets.. Photo by pani.minister
The new bridge at Ronda is the bridge that everybody comes to see. Although it is called new it is in fact over 200 years old, being completed in 1793.
It is the second bridge in this location, the first one completed in 1735 collapsed killing 50 people only 6 years later.
The bridge is 98 metres tall and built in 3 levels
Not only a Bridge but a Building
The bottom level has a single central arch, the second level also has a single very tall central arch and the top level where the gorge is wider has a large central room with a small window on both the front & rear of the bridge that look along the gorge and also 2 shorter side arches. See Ronda New Bridge Museum
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New Bridge Ronda. Window in the centre
New Bridge Ronda with waterfall of The River 'Rio Guadalevin'. Photo by madcowk
New Bridge Ronda People crossing the bridge. Ronda New Town on the far side
Ronda New Bridge Museum
Within the arch is a 60 square foot room, now a museum about the bridge & surroundings..
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Ronda New Bridge Way In to the Museum. Down the steps at the Old town end of bridge, west side. Photo by sjdunphy
Ronda New Bridge viewing terrace below the arch on Way In to the Museum. Photo by juanpol
Ronda New Bridge age comparison to UK bridges
The 'NEW' bridge bullt in 1793 is older than most of the following well known United Kingdom Bridges
- 1774 and 1777 Richmond Bridge over the River Thames
- 1826 Menai Suspension Bridge by Thomas Telford
- 1831 London Bridge sold to American Oil Billionaire Robert McCulloch & reconstructed at Lake Havasu City, Arizona
- 1864 Clifton Suspension Bridge by Isambard Kingdom Brunel
- 1876 Tyne Swing Bridge by William Armstrong
- 1890 Forth Railway Bridge by Sir John Fowler and Sir Benjamin Baker
Old Bridge Ronda (Puente Viejo)
Also known as the Arab bridge (Puente Arabe)
Ronda Old Bridge (Puente Viejo). Photo by Andy Cardiff. Through the arch further upstream & at a lower level is the original bridge built by the romans
Ronda Old Bridge also known as St. Michaels Bridge
The Old Bridge at Ronda (Puente Viejo) was also built by the Arabs and is also known as the Arab bridge (Puente Árabe).
It is built a few metres down stream from the Roman bridge, which can be seen through the arch in the above photograph. The bridge is located further into the gorge and built at a higher level. This made the journey into the Old Town of Ronda slightly less strenuous and less liable to flooding of the river.
The bridge is built into the city wall
Excellent views into the gorge, the defensive walls and the county side
Arab-Bridge-Ronda (Puente árabe)
Also Known as the Roman Bridge Ronda (Puente Romano) or St. Michaels Bridge (Puente de San Miguel)
Roman Bridge Ronda (Puente Romano). Photo by darobin
The Roman bridge is the original bridge over the River Guadalevin and a typical single arch stone bridge.
Although called the Roman bridge it was in fact built by the Moors and lead to the important northern gate into the old town of Ronda. This was followed by a steep zig zag path up the cliff slope through the defences into the town on the high plateau above.
After the defeat of the Moors the bridge was also known as the Saint Miguel bridge (Puente de San Miguel)