Bullish in Ronda...Plaza de Toros

We don’t agree with the cruelty of bullfighting but as it is deeply embedded in Spanish culture and history we thought we should visit at least one bullring during our Spanish road-trip. As Ronda is considered the home of bullfighting as practised today it seemed the obvious choice. Once we passed through the turnstile entry, where we had an issue with a barcode reader that meant the charming lady behind the counter had to come out and open up the reader and let us through manually. something she was obviously used to doing by the way she handled it. Once we were through we were a little confused as to where we should start the tour as signage wasn't obvious...is it just us? Following others seemed logical so we did just that.

We decided to make use of the audio guide, something I am not usually au fait with, mainly because of Pauline's love of detail which can mean a long time looking at things that sometimes in my opinion don't warrant the attention but I do accept that I probably miss a lot because of my short attention span. For this visit I would have to admit that it enhanced the experience. 

As you enter the bullring proper you pass the small chapel where the matadors would pray that they would survive the experience in the ring.

Standing in what is Spain's largest 'ring' at 66 metres diameters you get some idea of what a spectacle it must be when the bullring is filled to its capacity of 5500 people.

The 'royal box' sits above the  door from which the bulls are released.

The 'bull chute' behind the door where the bulls would be released from to face their fate.

There is a museum which gives the history of bullfighting and explains why Ronda is considered to be the home of bullfighting as practised today. It was here that the first matador got down off his horse and confronted a bull on foot, until this daring act, the fight between man and bull was always conducted entirely on horseback.

The audio guide definitely came into its own as we walked along the swooping corridor of the museum where we learned the names of the famous men and women (who knew?) of bullfighting. 

Like 'Le Cadre noir de Saumur' here in France, Ronda is home to the oldest order of horsemanship in Spain the 'Real Maestranza de Caballería' whose horses are stabled here beside their training facilities. 

Outside the bullring there is a walk of fame showing the most famous bull fighters whose names I have forgotten already but there is also fine bull represented in the square at the entrance.