Seville Bullring (Plaza de Toros de la Real Maestranza)
- Address: Paseo de Cristóbal Cólon 12, Seville
- Hours: Open daily. May - Oct: 9:30am - 8pm (until 7pm Nov - Apr). Closed on Good Friday and Dec 25.
- Admission: Tours - Adults: € 6, Children (6-11yrs): € 2.50
ATTRACTION Keywords:
Cultural Experience,
Popular with Locals,
Monument - Historical,
Stadium
Seville's bullring - or the Plaza de Toros de la Real Maestranza de Cabellería de Sevilla, to give it its due - is the oldest in Spain. It was here that the corrida, or bullfight, moved from horseback to foot, and many of the cherished theatrical traditions of the matador evolved.
The building was completed in the late 18th century and is a yellow-and-white baroque beauty. It's easy to imagine Bizet's Carmen meeting her passionate end here.
During the Feria de Abril, a week-long celebration of all things Seville, the season's most prestigious fights are held. Every afternoon, crowds pack the Plaza de Toros (or 'the Cathedral' as the locals call it) to see man take on bull.
If the spectacle turns your stomach, you might like to visit the museum and leave it at that. Here you'll find the chapel where the matadors pray, the infirmary where they're patched up, bulls' heads, and matador's costumes. Look out for the one worn by Joselito El Gallo, the famed matador who bought the diamonds and emeralds worn by La Macarena, the city's beloved statue of the Virgin. (When he was killed in the ring, the Virgin wore black!)
Latest Reviews
Review by vvt, May 2013
Doing what: Ronda Day Trip from Seville: Wine Tasting, Bullfighting Ring and Optional Pueblos Blancos Tour
Unforgettable city. The local guide skipped the wine tasting part while added a visit to the cathedral.
Review by riobella, April 2013
Doing what: Seville In One Day: Santa Cruz Quarter, Royal Alcazar Palace, Seville Cathedral, Royal Maestranza Bullring and River Cruise
Our guide was so passionate and knowledgeable about this city, which really made this tour quite enjoyable. While it's very easy to show yourself around town, his narration really made it worth going on the tour.There were two less-than-stellar points; 1) waiting to enter Alcazar and then the amount of time inside the palace - too long. Since these palaces are not furnished like many castles are, the tours can really be much shorter, and become tiring. If I had it to do again, I would end the tour before entering Alcazar, find out when the lines are the shortest and go on my own. 2) The river cruise after lunch has nothing to see but bridges built in 1931 and is very short with rather unsightly scenery. By the time we got to the Bull Ring, we decided to go home and skip it altogether. I do highly recommend the morning portion, though.
Review by donald.waskett, December 2012
Doing what: Seville City Hop-on Hop-off Tour
My husband is in a wheelchair so it was good that we could see as much of the city as possible with out me having to push him around
