Spain and Portugal for Visitors

The oldest bullring in the world, full name the Plaza de Toros de la Real Maestranza de Caballería, vies with the Plaza de Toros de Las Ventas in Madrid to be the most prestigious. Important bullfights are held here throughout the season (Easter to mid-October), but those corresponding to Seville's Feria de Abril are particularly noteworthy, if only for the place they occupy in the hearts of the city's sizeable bullfight fanbase.

The Maestranza was constructed from 1733 onwards, originally of wood. There are older places in Spain which have staged bullfights, but the Maestranza is the original bullring (actually egg-shaped).The Real Maestranza de Caballería was originally a cross between an order of knights and a riding school with royal charter which staged public exhibitions. Seville born-and-bred bullfighters have a special place in the history of bullfighting, Juan Belmonte and José Gomez, "Joselito," being seminal figures in the development of bullfighting-as-we-know-it.

Click here for Plaza de La Maestranza opening hours, entrance prices, and how to get there.