Parador de Ronda

The Parador de Ronda occupies the former buildings of the town hall and the market, on plaza de España, on the Mercadillo side, with the Puente Nuevo right up against one of its sides. It opened in 1994 and keeps the façade of the old Casa Consistorial, with its arcades, cornices and clock. At the back, the building looks out over the gorge, which according to Paradores is 120 metres deep here: hence the hotel presents itself as a viewpoint.

A balcony over the gorge

What sets this hotel apart from the others in the centre is its position. The terrace and the pool look over the gorge and the sierra, and the Puente Nuevo is a few steps from the door; the chamber of its central arch and the way down to the Arab Baths are done on foot. On the other side of the square starts the Alameda viewpoint promenade, which follows the edge of the cliff. For dinner without taking the car, Bardal and Tragatá are on the streets behind.

Inside, the decor is brightly coloured and the Parador displays a collection of bullfighting art with more than a hundred works, from Romanticism and Goya-style to abstraction and pop.

Doubles, superiors and duplexes

There are three room types: standard double, superior double and duplex. All have air conditioning, a flat-screen TV with Chromecast, minibar, a safe for a laptop, hairdryer and free wifi; there is a lift, room service, breakfast in the room and laundry. Prices change with the date and appear in the Paradores calendar, with room-only, bed-and-breakfast or half-board rates, and a cheaper non-refundable rate. If you want to see the gorge from your bed, expressly ask for a room with views when booking.

A big table or raciones

The restaurant serves Andalusian and Mediterranean cooking, with dishes from the serranía. Next door, El Manzel de Ronda is a space with a more informal menu and sharing raciones from the Málaga districts, useful for a light dinner after a day of sightseeing.

Car, garage and arrival

The Parador has a paid garage and an electric car charging point, something to be thankful for in the centre of Ronda: the streets of the Mercadillo have restricted traffic and parking is difficult. Paradores places Ronda 118 km from Málaga. From the train or bus station it is about fifteen minutes' walk to plaza de España.

The pool is outdoor and seasonal; the dates are not published on the page, so ask if you are travelling in spring or autumn. For travelling with a dog, Paradores refers to the conditions in its frequently asked questions: confirm before booking.