Bullfighting Museum of the Bullring
The Plaza de Toros de la Real Maestranza de Caballería de Sevilla is the oldest bullring in Spain. Home of the bullfights that take place in the framework of the Feria de Abril in Seville, one of the most recognized bullfighting festivals in the world.
Real Maestranza
It is considered one of the most popular tourist attractions in the city and is among the most visited monuments of the city. As a bullring it is one of the most difficult in the world due to its layout and characteristics, in addition to its audience, which is said to be one of the toughest and most difficult among bullfighting fans.
In 1749, construction began on a circular bullring on the Baratillo hill to replace the rectangular bullring located on the site. Subsequently, in 1761, the construction is undertaken by ochavas (each ochava equivalent to four arches). The master builders in this first stage of construction were Francisco Sánchez de Aragón and Pedro and Vicente San Martín. The interior facade of the square called Palco del Príncipe was completed in 1765, this box consists of two bodies: the access door to the square and through which the triumphant bullfighters go out, and the box itself, for the exclusive use of the Royal Family. It is composed in its upper part by four arches on which rests a vault of half orange, which in its upper part is covered by white and blue tiles.
The sculptural group is made up of four arches.
The sculptural group that tops it is the work of the Portuguese sculptor Cayetano de Acosta. The Box was made for the Infante of Spain, Felipe de Borbón, son of Felipe V and Isabel de Farnesio. Due to the prohibition of bullfights by Carlos III in 1786, the works were paralyzed which were concluded, although only a third of the square had been built. The old Palco de la Diputación, later called the Palco de Ganaderos, located over the bullring door and in front of the Palco del Príncipe, also dates from this period. The cover of the bleachers of half of the square is completed after 34 years, to the left and right of the Palco del Príncipe, leaving open a panoramic view of the Cathedral and the Giralda from the stands, as reflected in a large number of prints of the time.
By 1868 the Palco de la Diputación was in such a deplorable state that its improvement was undertaken, with a new floor and a marble balustrade, as well as the coat of arms of the Real Maestranza de Caballería, the work of the Italian sculptor Augusto Franchy. In addition, five balconies were built on each side of the Palco de la Diputación, where the clock of the square is currently located. It ends in 1881 the construction of the square completely closing the same, being then built in two thirds in stone and the rest in wood.
Between the years 1914 to 1915 the stone laying is reformed and replaced by another in brick under the direction of the Sevillian architect Anibal Gonzalez. All of the laying lines were rebuilt with a gentler slope. The number of shade rows increased from ten to twelve and to fourteen in the sun rows, in addition to three rows of barriers. In the upper part of the shaded seating, in front of the boxes, a row of seating chairs was built. Already at this time began to build houses attached to the square around its perimeter, which will continue to be built until the last intervention of Aníbal González in the so-called Casa de la Real Maestranza, with facade to Paseo de Colón and linked to the Plaza by an elegant passageway or upper gallery.
Well of Cultural Interest, the Plaza de Toros de la Real Maestranza de Caballería de Sevilla is listed as a Monument, as published in the BOE dated 1984.
Infosheet
Monday – Sunday 09:30h-21:30h
Days of bullfighting shows 09:30h – 15:30h
Ticket office closes 30 minutes before
Closed: 25 December
General admission: 10€.
Seniors, students and young people: 6€.
Children from 7 to 11 years old: 3,5€.
Children from 0 to 6 years old: free.
Groups – contact
(+34) 954 22 45 77
Paseo de Cristóbal Colón, 12