Plaza de Toros de la Maestranza, Sevilla

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.

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The 18th century Plaza de Toros de la Real Maestranza took several decades to finally complete. Featuring its Baroque façade, it has become one of the most popular venues in Spain for watching bullfighting. Instead of a round arena, it is actually shaped in an oval. The season starts with the Feria de Abril (Fair of April) and continues through to September.

Open Mon-Sun 9.30am-7.00pm.

Unfortunately a Christmas Trip to Spain will mean you can't catch a Bull Fight. The Bull Fighting Season runs from Easter to October. In the off season you can still visit the ring for a tour. See the actual ring, the infirmary, historical museum and the horse stables.

Open every day from 0930-1900
Tours are in Spanish and English

Admission cost 4,00 Euro (3,20 for seniors)