Puente Nuevo

About this place

Completed in 1793 after decades of construction, Ronda's New Bridge spans the deep El Tajo gorge. Its enormous masonry piers reveal the challenge of linking the two sides of the town. Look down into the gorge to appreciate the engineering behind its dramatic appearance. The successful bridge followed an earlier 18th-century attempt that failed, underlining the difficulty of building at this height. A chamber above the main arch had several uses, including as a prison. These details add human and practical history to a structure often remembered mainly for its spectacular place in the landscape.