Arco de Felipe V, Ronda Spain
The Arco de Felipe V (Arch of Philip V) is a grand, Baroque stone arch located in Ronda’s historic quarter, near the lower, older bridges that span the El Tajo gorge. It was built in 1742 to replace the original Puerta del Puente (Bridge Gate), which had been destroyed or fallen into disrepair. The arch was necessary to reinforce the city entrance after the dramatic collapse of the first, early attempt at the Puente Nuevo bridge in 1741, which had destabilized the access routes. The arch is named in honor of King Philip V of Spain (who reigned from 1700 to 1746) and served as a ceremonial entrance, guiding traffic from the old quarter across the Puente Viejo (Old Bridge) and into the lower river valley. With its ornate coat of arms and solid construction, it stands as an elegant monument to the Bourbon monarchy’s attempt to restore order and infrastructure to the city after a period of instability.
- 5 minutes from the bridge
- Beautiful views of the mountains
- Beautiful sunset view
Words from the Photographer: Its a joy being able to explore the roads of Ronda
