Learn about Bullfights in Ronda Bullring in Spain

Where is the city of Ronda?

Ronda is in Malaga province, a popular holiday destination in Spain. Malaga province is located on the southern Mediterranean coast of Spain, in Andalusia. Ronda is one of the oldest cities in Spain and it took 2 hours by bus from Seville.

Plaza de Toros de Ronda

One of the top things to do in Spain is visiting the bullring and Ronda Bullring is one of the oldest in Spain.  I do not have any desire to witness a live show of bullfights but I do love learning about the history of bullfight and bullrings.

We first went to the museum and learn some history of this bullring before we walked to the arena.

Mueso Taurino

The museum (Mueso Taurino) provides excellent information on bullring history. It contains many of the most important outfits and bullfighting regalia from the last two centuries, as well as an extensive collection of weapons.

Francisco de Goya

Various artworks are displayed in the museum, including artwork of Francisco de Goya, one of the top artists in Spain.  Goya is famous because he was a popular painter in royal circles.

Bullfighting Season

Bullfighting is a sport and a proud national symbol in Spain. We didn’t have the chance to visit the bullfighting as it has a certain season which runs from April until September, usually on Sunday once a week.  Ronda only holds a few bullfights each September at the annual Feria Goyesca.

Spain’s “National heritage”

Bullfighting events remain popular in Spain, especially in the summertime. However, the sport has become increasingly politicized in recent years. Some argue that bullfights should be ban because it is grave cases of animal abuse and some wanted it to stay as it is Spain’s national heritage. I know that Catalonia region ban bullfights, so you can’t watch bullfights in Barcelona.

Bullfighting Business

Bullfighting started in Spain since Roman times which involve a matador with a cape and sword in the 18th century. It’s a festival, a sacrificial ritual, a spectacle and a business. Bullfighting as an industry contributes to the economies of the countries where it is practiced in a number of ways. Future matadors pay to train at bullfighting schools. Specialized ranches breed bulls. Seamstresses fashion the ornate traje de luces by hand, often taking more than a month to make one at a cost of $2,000 to $3,000. And the staff at the arena during the event, including veterinary surgeons.

Bullring seating

The Ronda Bullring only has 5000 seats, not the largest in the world but the round circle of sand is the largest in the world at 66m, making it 6m larger than Spain’s biggest bullring, the Plaza Toros Las Ventas in Madrid.  We visited Bullring in Madrid on the first day we arrived in Spain.

Over here in Ronda Bullring, there are only two layers of seating, each with five raised rows and 136 pillars that make up 68 arches. So even you get the cheapest ticket, you are still able to catch a pretty good view of what’s happening down on the sand.

Where the bulls are kept

No bull but a bulldog in the Ronda Bullring!

Who else holds bullfights?

The battle for the future of bullfighting extends far beyond Spain. Portugal, Cuba, Mexico, Columbia, Ecuador, Venezuela and Peru also have bullfights event.

Price of Entry

• 6.50€ individual
• 8.00€ individual with audio-guide

Final thoughts:

Visiting the bullring in Ronda is a great experience, I get to learn about the bullring and bullfights in Spain which is the National Heritage here.