Plaza de Toros de la Maestranza, Sevilla

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From the outside the Plaza De Toros de la Real Maestranza de Caballeria de Sevilla is decorative but not particularly impressive. From the Giralda tower on the other hand the size and magnificent of this facility is very grand.

The current building had its roots back to 1749 when a circular ring was first constructed at the site. There were numerous changes, additions and improvements to the site over the next nearly 300 years.

Today the bullring is the site of the annual Feria de April which is one of the most well known bull fighting events in the world.

We walked the outside of the bullring but chose not to go in. Even late in the afternoon when no events were scheduled there was a large group of people about to enter the area for a tour.

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Commenced in 1758 (second oldest bullring in Spain, behind the one in Rhonda), this magnificent bullring was designed by Vicente San Martín, who created an elegant structure in a typical regional style. It would take more than a century before the arena was finally completed in 1881. Today it can host some 12,500 spectators. When we visited there was a wedding ceremony and photographic session happening.

We took a guided tours lead you through the arcaded arena via the small chapel -Curro Romero where toredos pray they will not be impaled by a bull's horn - and the stables, where you'll see the horses of the picadores (horsemen who jab a bull with a lance). Also part of the Plaza de Toros is the Museum of the History of Bullfights, where paintings, costumes and other artifacts regarding the great toreros are displayed.

This is Seville's riffraff's social meeting place. Here they meet to torture bulls to death just for fun. Don't support cruelty and don't visit Seville until they stop this atrocity; don't breathe the same air as that riffraff. (Este es el lugar de encuentro social de la gentuza de Sevilla. Se reúnen aquí para torturar toros hasta la muerte sólo por diversión.)

This ARENA is sutuated on the Pase de Cristobol Colón (Christopher Columbus Promenade.

It is also known by the name of FLEA MARKET SQUARE because the bull ring was built on the site where the flea market was once held, that is where sailors and travellers exchanged pledges...

The Real Maestranza, which owns the square, is a noble corporation founded by King Charles II in 1670 with the name of Real Maestranza de la Cavaleria.
The noblest and most influential families in Seville were members of the corporation. Its aim was to protect the chivalry and military codes.
In the 18th Century was authorized by the King to build a bull ring. The architect was Vincente San Martin who started building in 1761.

I had a guided tour here and for more photos you have to go to my TRAVELOGUES....

There is a lot to be seen inside such as the CHAPEL, the place where the bull fighters say their last praying before it all starts.

There is also a museum and....an EMERGENCY room where an operating table is ready for those who get wounded by the bull......

Lots of mementos and also a nice shop for souvenirs....

Worthy of a visit....seeing the ring filled with the wonderful ochre sand under the deep-blue skies with the hot sun above makes it all very special and exciting a place...

For me this was a real highlight of my trip, I didn't get to see a bull fight but I did get a tour of the facility and the museum and it gave me a great feel for the experience. I would really like to return for the atmosphere that must revolve around these events.

The Maestranza Bullring of Seville, dating from 1761 to 1881, has a Baroque facade in white and ochre. The tendidos altos (high seats) are covered by a roof which is supported by arcs on marble columns.
The Maestranza bullring of Seville is regarded, together with Las Ventas in Madrid, as one of the top venues for bullfighting in Spain, accomodating as many as 12,500 spectators.

I have a link to my travelogue where you can get some more pictures of the facility and the museum within the building. I enjoyed learning more about history and how many great matadors ended their lives it seemed!

Enjoy the pictures! I love your comments if you have time to leave some.

The large and majestic Plaza De Toros of Sevilla is an interesting visit when you are in the city.
Guided visits are held regularly in Spanish and English when there are no bullfights: from 9.30 to 20.00 (19.00 in winter) at the price of Euro 5 you can take a look at the ampty bullring, and visit some of its dependencies: the bullfighting museum, the bullfighter's chapel (where the bullfighters use to stay and pray before the corrida) and the Horses Courtyard.
During the visit many information are provided about the history of Tauromachy and the most important bullfighters.

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The statue to Bizet’s Carmen is found near the Maestranza Bullring. Carmen was Merimee’s feisty gypsy heroine who worked as a cigarrera in the tobacco factory. Bizet built his famous opera around the story which was set in 1830.

Outside the Plaza de Toros de la Maestranza is a statue of Curro Romero, famous matadore of Spain. Curro Romera was the professional name of Francisco Romero Lopez. He was born in 1933 in Camas, near Seville. After 42 years of fighting bulls, he retired at 66 after becoming one of the longest performing bullfighters in history.

The bronzed statue of Pepe Luis Vazques was placed in front of the Plaza de Toros of the Real Maestranza in 2003 only a short distance from another well known matador, Curro Romero. He was born in 1921 as Jose Luis Garces Vazques, into a neighbourhood known as being ‘the district of bullfighters’. He was the leading Matador of Spain during the 1940’s. The sculpture was created by Alberto Franco.

A few buildings were added to the original Plaza de Toros de la Real Maestranza including a museum, which has been added to the original building and has posters, memorabilia and statues of well known bullfighters. A chapel or capilla was also added.