New Bridge of Ronda

The Puente Nuevo bridge spans 98 metres of empty space over the El Tajo, the gorge that splits Ronda in two.

And it has a story that hardly anyone tells properly, starting with the earlier bridge that collapsed.

The bridge that collapsed, and the other two

First of all, we need to clarify something that is constantly misunderstood: Ronda has three bridges on the El Tajo, and all three are still standing.

• The Roman Bridge, which, despite its name dates from the Muslim period.
• The Old Bridge, rebuilt in 1616 on previous foundations. It exists and can be visited.
• The New Bridge, the tallest and the youngest.

The tragedy of 1741

The bridge that collapsed was none of those three. It was a fourth bridge, built on the same site as the present one.

In 1735, the architects José García and Juan Camacho built a bridge here with a single 35-metre arch. They finished it in eight months, which was already a reckless move even back then.

It collapsed in 1741, six years later, and around fifty people died. The causes: lack of supports, poor arch closure and substandard workmanship.

And here’s the detail that brings it all full circle: The stone for the Puente Nuevo was quarried from the bottom of the gorge, from the rubble of that collapse. That is why the bridge blends in with the rock: it is the very same stone from the El Tajo.

How the present bridge was built

After the disaster, nobody wanted to try again for nearly twenty years. Work resumed in 1759 and were not completed until 1793: thirty-four years.

And it wasn’t the work of just one architect, although one is always mentioned:

• Domingo Lois de Monteagudo supervised construction until 1778 and built the lower third, which is the tricky bit.
• José Martín de Aldehuela took over and completed it in 1793. He also designed the bullring in Ronda and the San Telmo aqueduct in Málaga.
• Juan Antonio Díaz Machuca was the master builder.

How it was paid for: with 15,000 reales from the Real Maestranza and a tax on transactions at the May Fair. The city funded the bridge itself.

And how it was done: lowering the workers on ropes at the bottom of the gorge, with rockfalls and scaffolding hanging over the abyss.

⚠️ The legend of the architect who committed suicide is a hoax

This rumour is doing the rounds, so it’s worth setting the record straight: It is said that Aldehuela he threw himself into the El Tajo when the bridge was completed, upon realising that he would never build anything bigger. Another version speaks of an accident that occurred during the inspection.

None of them is true. José Martín de Aldehuela died of natural causes in Málaga in 1802, nine years after the bridge was completed, and he was buried in the convent of San Pedro de Alcántara.

The secret room above the arch

If you look at the central arch, you’ll see a small window. There’s a room inside, and it’s seen it all:

• Warehouse and guardhouse.
• Inn.
• And prison, which is what brought him his notorious fame.

During the Civil War, according to contemporary accounts, Both sides used it as a place of execution, throwing the prisoners out of the windows into the depths of the El Tajo. Hemingway incorporated it into his fiction, and from there it became part of the local collective imagination.

Today it is the Puente Nuevo Interpretation Centre, with access for a fee from the Plaza de España, through the old guardhouse. Inside, there is an explanation of the building’s construction and you can look out through those very windows.

It has its own opening hours, separate from those of the bridge, so check them beforehand.

Where to view the bridge

You can cross the bridge for free: it’s just another street. But you can’t see it from above, and that’s the key to the visit.

• Viewpoint of Aldehuela, beside the end of the bridge. The most direct view of the arch, and the most accessible.
• The balconies at Plaza de España and the Parador, which offer a side view of the bridge.
• The ‘Balcón del Coño’, on the Paseo de la Alameda. It is not an official name, but rather the local nickname, derived from the reaction of anyone who looks out and sees the sudden fall.
• Descending to the bottom of the El Tajo, along the footpath by the Casa del Rey Moro and the Gardens of Cuenca. It’s the best view, with the whole bridge above you, although the climb back up is demanding.

For the photo: Early in the morning or at sunset, when the rock stands out against the shadow of the gorge.

🦅 And something almost nobody knows: it’s a birdwatching spot

The El Tajo is a first-rate birdwatching spot, and the viewing points are at different heights along the cliff face, allowing you to see the birds flying below.

What you see: peregrine falcons and jackdaws, which nest in the walls. There are viewing points with telescope to observe the nests.

If you’re interested, go early: that’s when things are at their busiest.

What’s next door?

The bridge is in the historic centre, so everything is within walking distance. Heading towards the old quarter: the Church of Santa María la Mayor, the Mondragón Palace and the Casa del Rey Moro. On the other side: the Real Maestranza bullring and the Alameda del Tajo.

Read more about the whole gorge in the El Tajo Gorge. And the whole route, in What to see in Ronda and What to see near Ronda.

Travelling from Málaga

We are a local tour operator based in Málaga with over 50 years’ experience organising trips around Andalusia. Ronda is an hour and a half away, and the excursion saves you having to park in the old town:

The first also includes Setenil de las Bodegas, with their houses nestled beneath the rock. The villages in the mountains, in The White Villages Route from Ronda and What to see in Setenil.

Frequently asked questions

How many metres high is the Puente Nuevo in Ronda?

Ninety-eight metres from the base of the lower arch to the road surface, above the bed of the River Guadalevín. At this point, the Tajo Gorge is between one hundred and one hundred and twenty metres deep.

When was the Puente Nuevo in Ronda built?

Work began in 1759 and was completed in 1793, a period of thirty-four years. Domingo Lois de Monteagudo supervised the work until 1778 and built the lower third; José Martín de Aldehuela then took over and completed it. The master builder was Juan Antonio Díaz Machuca.

Is it true that a previous bridge collapsed?

Yes. In 1735, the architects José García and Juan Camacho built a single-arch bridge 35 metres long on the very same site, completing it in just eight months. It collapsed in 1741, killing around fifty people due to a lack of supports, poor archwork and shoddy construction. The stone used for the Puente Nuevo was subsequently quarried from the bottom of the gorge, from that rubble.

How many bridges does Ronda have over the El Tajo?

Three, and all are still standing: the Roman Bridge, which, despite its name, dates from the Muslim period; the Old Bridge, rebuilt in 1616 on its original foundations; and the New Bridge, the highest and most recent. The bridge that collapsed in 1741 was a fourth structure, distinct from the previous three.

Did the architect of the Puente Nuevo take his own life?

No. It is said that José Martín de Aldehuela threw himself into the El Tajo upon completion of the work, realising that he would never build anything greater, and there is also talk of an accident during an inspection. Neither version is true: he died of natural causes in Málaga in 1802, nine years after the bridge was completed.

Is it possible to go inside the Puente Nuevo?

Yes. The chamber situated above the central arch houses the Puente Nuevo Interpretation Centre, which can be accessed for a fee from the Plaza de España via the former guardhouse. That room was used as a storeroom, an inn and a prison, and during the Civil War, according to contemporary accounts, as a place of execution. It has its own opening hours, separate from those of the bridge.