Spain Andalusia Malaga BW 2015-10-24 09-52-48

A bullring is an

arena An arena is a large enclosed venue, often circular or oval-shaped, designed to showcase theatre, Music, musical performances or Sport, sporting events. It comprises a large open space surrounded on most or all sides by tiered seating for specta ...

where

bullfighting Bullfighting is a physical contest that involves a bullfighter attempting to subdue, immobilize, or kill a bull, usually according to a set of rules, guidelines, or cultural expectations. There are several variations, including some forms wh ...

is performed. Bullrings are often associated with the

Iberian Peninsula The Iberian Peninsula ( ), also known as Iberia, is a peninsula in south-western Europe. Mostly separated from the rest of the European landmass by the Pyrenees, it includes the territories of peninsular Spain and Continental Portugal, comprisin ...

, but they can also be found through

Iberian America Ibero-America (, ) or Iberian America is generally considered to be the region in the Americas comprising countries or territories where Spanish or Portuguese are predominant languages (usually former territories of Spain or Portugal). Spain and ...

and in a few Spanish and Portuguese ex-colonies in Africa. Bullrings are often historic and culturally significant centres that bear many structural similarities to the

Roman Roman or Romans most often refers to: *Rome, the capital city of Italy *Ancient Rome, Roman civilization from 8th century BC to 5th century AD *Roman people, the people of Roman civilization *Epistle to the Romans, shortened to Romans, a letter w ...

amphitheatre An amphitheatre (American English, U.S. English: amphitheater) is an open-air venue used for entertainment, performances, and sports. The term derives from the ancient Greek ('), from ('), meaning "on both sides" or "around" and ('), meani ...

Common structure

The classic bullring is an enclosed, roughly circular amphitheatre with tiered rows of stands that surround an open central space. The open space forms the arena or ''ruedo'', a field of densely packed crushed rock (''albero'') that is the stage for the bullfight. Also on the ground level, the central arena is surrounded by a staging area where the bullfighters prepare and take refuge, called the ''callejón'' (alley). The ''callejón'' is separated from the arena by a wall or other structure, usually made of wood and roughly 140 cm high. The partition wall has doors for the entrance and exit of the bull (''puerta de los toriles'') and human participants (''puerta de cuadrilla''), although the form, number, and placement of these doors will vary from one bullring to another. In regular places, the wall is pushed outwards leaving splits (''burladero'', from burlar: to evade, to dodge) that allow the bullfighters to go in the arena and to take refuge but are too narrow for the bull. Nevertheless, on rare occasions the bull jumps the wall causing havoc in the corridor. The walls also have a type of stirrup or foothold that aids in crossing over to the central arena, and sometimes stirrups on the arena side as well; these are used mostly by event staff if they need to intervene quickly in the case of an emergency. The arena is surrounded by climbing rows of seats. The seats are priced differently according to the position of the sun during the show, normally in the afternoon. The hot ''sol'', "sun", is cheaper than the fresher ''sombra'', "shade".

Architectural origins

Bullrings evolved as specialized sporting arenas hand-in-hand with the sport that demanded them. Many of the ancient Roman amphitheatres had characteristics that can be seen in the bullrings of today (in fact

the ring The Ring may refer to: Arts and entertainment *The Ring (franchise), ''The Ring'' (franchise), a Japanese horror media franchise Literature * ''The Ring'', a 1967 novel by Richard Chopping * ''The Ring'', a 1988 book by Daniel Keys Moran * ''The R ...

Nîmes Nîmes ( , ; ; Latin: ''Nemausus'') is the Prefectures in France, prefecture of the Gard Departments of France, department in the Occitania (administrative region), Occitanie Regions of France, region of Southern France. Located between the Med ...

, France, is a Roman artifact, though it is more elliptical than the usual plaza), and the origin of

is very closely related to certain Roman traditions; in the formative years of the sport on the

, those Roman enclosures were not commonly utilised for bullfighting events. Back when bullfighting festivals were conducted principally on horseback, the spectacle was a more public affair that took place in the city's open

plaza A town square (or public square, urban square, city square or simply square), also called a plaza or piazza, is an open public space commonly found in the heart of a traditional town or city, and which is used for community gatherings. Rela ...

areaIt was only later, when bullfights were conducted principally by men on foot, that the public needed a structure to house them appropriately. Initially, temporary wooden fences were erected to prevent the bulls from escaping. When bullfights became much more popular in 18th century, not only did the crowd need special seating to view the spectacle, they also needed a structure to contain the general disorder that reigned at festivals during the heyday of such legendary figures as

Costillares Joaquín Rodríguez (July 20, 1743 – January 27, 1800), better known as Costillares, was a Spanish bullfighter who has been considered the father of modern spectator bullfighting. Biography Costillares was born in Seville, son of the matad ...

Pedro Romero Pedro Romero Martínez (19 November 1754 – 10 February 1839) was a bullfighter from the Romero family in Ronda, Spain. His grandfather Francisco is credited with advancing the art of using the muleta; his father and two brothers were also t ...

, and Pepe-Hillo. For centuries, early ''cosos'' (from Latin ''cursum'', meaning course, track) were rectangular. The earliest examples are found in the

Sierra de Huelva Sierra (Spanish for "mountain range" or "mountain chain" and "saw", from Latin '' serra'') may refer to the following: Places Mountains and mountain ranges * Sierra de Juárez, a mountain range in Baja California, Mexico * Sierra de las Nieves ...

, which was the destination of

transhumance Transhumance is a type of pastoralism or Nomad, nomadism, a seasonal movement of livestock between fixed summer and winter pastures. In montane regions (''vertical transhumance''), it implies movement between higher pastures in summer and low ...

routes from León, who brought some of their culture with them, including the feast of San Mamés, mostly associated with northern Spain. It was precisely in the hamlet of San Mamés, between

Aroche Aroche () is a municipality of Spain located in the province of Huelva, Andalusia. According to the 2005 census, the town had a population of 3,319. History The Roman city of Arucci Turobriga, in the Hispania Baetica, was established during the ...

and

Rosal de la Frontera Rosal de la Frontera is a municipality of Spain located in the province of Huelva, Andalusia. According to the 2008 census, the municipality had a population of 1846 inhabitants. Geography Location Located in the south-west of the Iberian Peni ...

, where the oldest documented ''coso'' was built in 1599. Very little of the structure of this rectangular arena remains, which has been extensively documented by local historian Antonio Rodríguez Guillén "Chamizo". Another old ''coso'' was built in

Almonaster la Real Almonaster la Real is a town and municipality located in the province of Huelva, Spain. According to the 2005 census, the city had a population of 1,805 inhabitants. Demographics Monuments Mosque, 9th-10th century As the Arab name ''Al-Muna ...

in 1608, and the nearby plaza from

Campofrío Campofrío is a town and municipality located in the province of Huelva, Spain. According to the 2005 census, it has a population of 810 inhabitants and covers a 48 km2 area (16 people per km2). Demographics See also * List of municipaliti ...

, completed in 1718, is among the oldest with a circular shape. The oldest plaza still in use, Las Virtudes in

Santa Cruz de Mudela Santa Cruz de Mudela is a municipality of the Spanish Province of Ciudad Real located in the southeastern corner of the autonomous community Castilla–La Mancha. Geography Santa Cruz de Mudela has a Mediterranean–Continental climate that cons ...

Ciudad Real Ciudad Real (, ) is a municipality of Spain located in the autonomous community of Castile–La Mancha, capital of the province of Ciudad Real. It is the 5th most populated municipality in the region. It was founded as Villa Real in 1255 as a ro ...

, dates from 1641 and has a square shape. The plaza from

Béjar Béjar () is a town and municipality of Spain located in the province of Salamanca, autonomous community of Castile and León. As of 2018, it had a population of 12,961. The historical development of the town has been linked to its once thriving ...

(1711) was originally rectangular and later made circular. Likewise, when the

La Maestranza The Plaza de Toros de la Real Maestranza de Caballería de Sevilla is a 12,000-capacity bullring in Seville, Spain. During the annual Seville Fair in Seville, it is the site of one of the most well-known bullfighting festivals in the world. It i ...

bullring in

Seville Seville ( ; , ) is the capital and largest city of the Spain, Spanish autonomous communities of Spain, autonomous community of Andalusia and the province of Seville. It is situated on the lower reaches of the Guadalquivir, River Guadalquivir, ...

was authorized for construction in 1730 specifically to house bullfights, the original plans called for a rectangular arena for the first three years, only later to be changed to a circular form that avoided the cornering of the action and put all viewers at the same approximate distance, the same reason for the elliptical form of amphitheatres. Another circular plaza was begun in

Ronda Ronda () is a Municipalities in Spain, municipality of Spain belonging to the province of Málaga, within the autonomous community of Andalusia. Its population is about 35,000. Ronda is known for its cliffside location and a deep canyon that ca ...

in 1754, and it featured its first bullfights in 1782. In the late 19th century, the

Neo-Mudéjar Neo-Mudéjar is a type of Moorish Revival architecture practised in the Iberian Peninsula and to a far lesser extent in Ibero-America. This architectural movement emerged as a revival of Mudéjar style. It was an architectural trend of the late 19 ...

style became in vogue for plazas, involving decoration in visible brickwork. Since the 1990s, new construction technology allows some rings to be covered permanently or temporarily.

Alternative uses

The primary purpose of the ring is bullfighting, but it is usually limited to some festival weeks in the year. In other times, it may be used as a concert venue as in the ''

Rock en el ruedo Rock most often refers to: * Rock (geology), a naturally occurring solid aggregate of minerals or mineraloids * Rock music, a genre of popular music Rock or Rocks may also refer to: Places United Kingdom * Rock, Caerphilly, a location in Wales ...

'' tour of

Miguel Ríos Miguel Ríos Campaña (born 7 June 1944) is a Spanish singer and composer. He is one of the pioneers of rock and roll in Spain. Biography Ríos was born in La Cartuja, a neighborhood of Granada. The youngest of seven children, he went to wor ...

or the live record '' Diamonds & Rust in the Bullring'', featuring a

Joan Baez Joan Chandos Baez (, ; born January 9, 1941) is an American singer, songwriter, musician, and activist. Her contemporary folk music often includes songs of protest and social justice. Baez has performed publicly for over 60 years, releasing mo ...

concert in the Bilbao plaza. Before the diffusion of modern sports premises, bullrings were used in the Basque Country for

traditional sports Traditional sports and games (often abbreviated TSG) are physical activities which were played for centuries by people around the world prehistory, even before the civilization started, before the Globalization of sports, advent of modern Weste ...

similar to challenges of resistance running. The public made bets on the number of laps the runner could make. No bulls were involved. After the

battle of Badajoz (1936) The Battle of Badajoz was one of the first major engagements of the Spanish Civil War, resulting in a tactical and strategic Nationalist victory, however at a significant cost in time and troops. After several days of shelling and bombardment, Na ...

of the

Spanish Civil War The Spanish Civil War () was a military conflict fought from 1936 to 1939 between the Republican faction (Spanish Civil War), Republicans and the Nationalist faction (Spanish Civil War), Nationalists. Republicans were loyal to the Left-wing p ...

, the Badajoz ring was used as a confinement camp for supporters of the republic and many thousands were executed there by the Nationalist forces who had just occupied the town. Most indoor bullrings, especially in Mexico and elsewhere in Latin America, in addition to being used for concerts, have also been used for indoor sports such as

basketball Basketball is a team sport in which two teams, most commonly of five players each, opposing one another on a rectangular Basketball court, court, compete with the primary objective of #Shooting, shooting a basketball (ball), basketball (appro ...

ice hockey Ice hockey (or simply hockey in North America) is a team sport played on ice skates, usually on an Ice rink, ice skating rink with Ice hockey rink, lines and markings specific to the sport. It belongs to a family of sports called hockey. Tw ...

boxing Boxing is a combat sport and martial art. Taking place in a boxing ring, it involves two people – usually wearing protective equipment, such as boxing glove, protective gloves, hand wraps, and mouthguards – throwing Punch (combat), punch ...

and

lucha libre ''Lucha libre'' (, meaning "freestyle wrestling" or literally translated as "free fight") is the term for the style of professional wrestling originating in Mexico. Since its introduction to Mexico in the early 20th century, it has develope ...

Bullrings of the world

The most famous bullrings in the world are Plaza de Toros de Las Ventas in

Madrid Madrid ( ; ) is the capital and List of largest cities in Spain, most populous municipality of Spain. It has almost 3.5 million inhabitants and a Madrid metropolitan area, metropolitan area population of approximately 7 million. It i ...

(Spain), widely regarded as the most prestigious one,

(Spain), Campo Pequeno in

Lisbon Lisbon ( ; ) is the capital and largest city of Portugal, with an estimated population of 567,131, as of 2023, within its administrative limits and 3,028,000 within the Lisbon Metropolitan Area, metropolis, as of 2025. Lisbon is mainlan ...

(Portugal) and

Plaza de Toros México The Plaza de toros México, situated in Mexico City, is the world's largest bullring. The 41,262-seat facility is usually dedicated to bullfighting, but many boxing matches have been held there as well, including Julio César Chávez's third and ...

Mexico City Mexico City is the capital city, capital and List of cities in Mexico, largest city of Mexico, as well as the List of North American cities by population, most populous city in North America. It is one of the most important cultural and finan ...

Europe

Spain

=Major venues in Spain

= * Plaza de Toros de Las Ventas,

(1931) *

Plaza de Toros de Valencia , officially , is a bullring in Valencia, Spain, Valencia, Spain. It was built between 1850 and 1859El Mundo (España), El Mundo, n.º 626, domingo 26 de septiembre de 2011, Magacine pág. 32. in the neoclassical style, inspired by civil Roman ar ...

(1851) *

(1761) * Plaza de Toros de Vista Alegre, Bilbao * Plaza de Toros de Pamplona, Pamplona *

Plaza de toros de La Malagueta La Malagueta is a bullring at Málaga, Andalucía, Spain. It is located in the eastern district of Málaga, in its namesake neighbourhood of ''La Malagueta''. The first event was held in 1876. The building is owned by the Provincial_Deputation_ ...

, Málaga *

Plaza de Toros de los Califas Plaza de Toros de los Califas is a building in Córdoba, Andalusia, Córdoba, Spain. It is currently used for bull fighting. The stadium holds 14,000 people after the installation of red seats. It was built in 1965. References

Bullri ...

, Córdoba * Donostia Arena, San Sebastián *

Plaza de Toros de Zaragoza Plaza de Toros de Zaragoza is a bullring in Zaragoza, Spain. It is currently used for bullfighting. The stadium holds 10,072 spectators. It was opened in 1764. References Zaragoza Zaragoza (), traditionally known in English as Saragoss ...

(1990)

= Local venues in Spain

= * Plaza de Toros, Aranjuez (1760) *

Plaza de Toros de Albacete The Plaza de Toros de Albacete is a bullring in the town of the Albacete, in the region of Castilla-La Mancha (Spain). Popularly known as "La Chata", a member of the Royal Academy, José Maria de Cossio, called it "one of the most excellent b ...

Albacete Albacete ( , , ) is a city and municipality in the Spanish autonomous community of Castilla–La Mancha, and capital of the province of Albacete. Lying in the south-east of the Iberian Peninsula, the area around the city is known as Los Llan ...

(1917) *Plaza de Toros de Alicante,

Alicante Alicante (, , ; ; ; officially: ''/'' ) is a city and municipalities of Spain, municipality in the Valencian Community, Spain. It is the capital of the province of Alicante and a historic Mediterranean Sea, Mediterranean port. The population ...

(1847) * Plaza de Toros de El Puerto de Santa María,

Cádiz Cádiz ( , , ) is a city in Spain and the capital of the Province of Cádiz in the Autonomous communities of Spain, autonomous community of Andalusia. It is located in the southwest of the Iberian Peninsula off the Atlantic Ocean separated fr ...

(1880) * Plaza de Toros de Fuengirola,

Fuengirola Fuengirola () is a city on the Costa del Sol in the province of Málaga in the autonomous community of Andalusia in southern Spain. It is located on the central coast of the province and integrated into the region of the Costa del Sol and the Com ...

(1962) * Plaza de Toros de Granada (1928) *

Plaza de Toros de Jaén Plaza de Toros de Jaén is a bullring in Jaén, Spain. It is currently used for bull fighting Bullfighting is a physical contest that involves a bullfighter attempting to subdue, immobilize, or kill a bull, usually according to a set of ...

(1960) *

Plaza de Toros de La Coruña A town square (or public square, urban square, city square or simply square), also called a plaza or piazza, is an open public space commonly found in the heart of a traditional town or city, and which is used for community gatherings. Rela ...

A Coruña A Coruña (; ; also informally called just Coruña; historical English: Corunna or The Groyne) is a city and municipality in Galicia, Spain. It is Galicia's second largest city, behind Vigo. The city is the provincial capital of the province ...

(1991) *

Plaza de Toros de La Ribera A town square (or public square, urban square, city square or simply square), also called a plaza or piazza, is an open public space commonly found in the heart of a traditional town or city, and which is used for community gatherings. Rela ...

Logroño Logroño ( , , ) is the capital of the autonomous community of La Rioja (Spain), La Rioja, Spain. Located in the north of the Iberian Peninsula, primarily in the right (South) bank of the Ebro River, Logroño has historically been a place of pa ...

(2001) * Plaza de Toros de Marbella,

Marbella Marbella ( , , ) is a city and municipality in southern Spain, belonging to the province of Málaga in the autonomous community of Andalusia. It is part of the Costa del Sol and is the headquarters of the Association of Municipalities of the re ...

(1964) *

Plaza de Toros de La Merced The Plaza de Toros de La Merced is a bullring in the Andalusian city of Huelva, Spain. The current building, which was reinaugurated in 1984 after being rehabilitated by architect Luis Marquínez, is an updated version of an old bullring, built ...

Huelva Huelva ( , , ) is a municipality of Spain and the capital of the Huelva (province), province of Huelva, in the Autonomous communities of Spain, autonomous community of Andalusia. Located in the southwest of the Iberian Peninsula, it sits betwee ...

(1968) *

Plaza de Toros de Murcia The Plaza de Toros de Murcia (also known as the Plaza de Toros de La Condomina) is a bullring in Murcia, Spain. As of June 2015, it is used for bullfighting. The stadium holds 15,000 people. It was built in 1887. External links Official website ...

(1885) * Plaza de Toros de Vitoria-Gasteiz (1941) * Plaza de Toros de Ronda,

(1785) *

Plaza de Toros La Glorieta Plaza de Toros de Salamanca – La Glorieta, nicknamed La Glorieta or Plaza de Toros de La Glorieta, is a bullring at Avenida San Agustín, 1, Salamanca, Castile and León, Spain. It is currently used for bullfighting Bullfighting is a phys ...

Salamanca Salamanca () is a Municipality of Spain, municipality and city in Spain, capital of the Province of Salamanca, province of the same name, located in the autonomous community of Castile and León. It is located in the Campo Charro comarca, in the ...

(1893) * Plaza de Toros de El Bibio,

Gijón Gijón () or () is a city and municipality in north-western Spain. It is the largest city and Municipalities of Spain, municipality by population in the autonomous communities of Spain, autonomous community of Asturias. It is located on the coa ...

(1888) * Plaza de Toros de Toledo (1865) * Plaza de Toros de Segovia, (1805)

Portugal

* Campo Pequeno bullring,

* Praça Toiros Palha Blanco, Vila Franca de Xira *Coliseu Figueirense,

Figueira da Foz Figueira da Foz (), officially Figueira da Foz City (), often called simply Figueira for short, is a city and a municipality in the Coimbra District, in Portugal. Practically at the midpoint of the Iberian Peninsula's Atlantic Ocean, Atlantic coa ...

*Coliseu de Redondo, Redondo *

Póvoa de Varzim Bullfighting Arena Póvoa de Varzim Bullfighting Arena () was a bullring (Portuguese: ''Praça de Touros'') in Póvoa de Varzim, Portugal. It is located on Avenida Vasco da Gama, on the northern waterfront of the city. Bullfighting, horse shows, and concerts are h ...

Póvoa de Varzim Póvoa de Varzim () is a Portugal, Portuguese city in Norte Region, Portugal, Northern Portugal and sub-region of Greater Porto, from its city centre. It sits in a sandy coastal plain, a cuspate foreland, halfway between the Minho River, Minho ...

(near

Porto Porto (), also known in English language, English as Oporto, is the List of cities in Portugal, second largest city in Portugal, after Lisbon. It is the capital of the Porto District and one of the Iberian Peninsula's major urban areas. Porto c ...

) *

Praça de Toiros de Albufeira Albufeira Bullring () is a bullring (Portuguese: ''Praça de Touros'') in Albufeira, Portugal. Bullfighting, horse shows, and concert A concert, often known informally as a gig or show, is a live performance of music in front of an audience. T ...

Albufeira Albufeira (, ), officially the City of Albufeira (), is a List of cities in Portugal, city and Concelho, municipality of Faro District in the Algarve region of southern Portugal. The population in 2021 was 44,158, in an area of . The city proper ...

*Praça de Touros Amadeu Augusto dos Santos, Montijo *Praça de Touros Celestino Graça,

Santarém Santarém may refer to: Places * Santarém, Pará, Brazil * Santarém District, a district in Portugal * Santarém, Portugal, Capital of the Ribatejo province * Roman Catholic Diocese of Santarém, Portugal Other * Santarém cheese, a Portuguese g ...

*Praça de Touros da Luz,

Mourão Mourão () is a municipality in the District of Évora in Portugal. The population in 2011 was 2,663, in an area of 278.63 km2. Geography The municipality borders the municipality of Alandroal to the north, Spain to the east, Barrancos to ...

(in contemporary architectural style) *Praça de Touros Daniel de Nascimento,

Moita Moita () is a municipality in the district of Setúbal (district), Setúbal in Portugal. The population in 2011 was 66,029, in an area of 55.26 km2. The municipality is part of the Greater Lisbon Area, with a demographic rate of 1.194,9/km2 ...

*Praça de Touros de Abiúl, Pombal (one of the oldest) *Praça de Touros de Estremoz,

Estremoz Estremoz () is a municipality in Portugal. The population in 2011 was 14,318, in an area of 513.80 km2. The city Estremoz itself had a population of 7,682 in 2001. It is located in the Alentejo region. History The region around Estremoz h ...

*Praça de Touros de Monsaraz,

Reguengos de Monsaraz Reguengos de Monsaraz (), officially the Municipality of Reguengos de Monsaraz (), is a municipality in Évora District in Portugal. The population in 2011 was 10,828, in an area of 464.00 km2. The City of Reguengos de Monsaraz proper has a po ...

(very ancient) *Praça de Touros de Montemor-o-Novo,

Montemor-o-Novo Montemor-o-Novo (), officially the City of Montemor-o-Novo (), is a city and municipality in the District of Évora (district), Évora in Portugal. The population in 2011 was 17,437, in an area of 1232.97 km2. The city itself had a population ...

* Praça de Touros da Nazaré, Nazaré *Praça de Touros de Salvaterra,

Salvaterra de Magos Salvaterra de Magos () is a municipality in the district of Santarém in Portugal. The population in 2011 was 22,159, in an area of 243.93 km2. The present Mayor is Hélder Manuel Ramalho de Sousa Esménio of the PS. The previous mayor Ana ...

*Praça de Touros de Santa Eulália,

Elvas Elvas (), officially the City of Elvas (), is a Portuguese municipality, former episcopal city and frontier fortress of easternmost central Portugal, located in the district of Portalegre in Alentejo. It is situated about east of Lisbon, and ab ...

*Praça de Touros de Santo António das Areias,

Marvão Marvão (), officially the Very Noble and Ever Loyal Town of Marvão (), is a municipality in Portalegre District in Portugal. The population in 2020 was 2,972 (and dropping at a rate of around one inhabitant per week), in an area of 154.90 ...

*Praça de Touros de Sobral de Monte Agraço,

Sobral de Monte Agraço Sobral de Monte Agraço () is a municipality in the District of Lisbon in Portugal. The population in 2011 was 10,156, in an area of 52.10 km2. The present Mayor is José Alberto Quintino, elected by the Unitary Democratic Coalition. Histor ...

*Praça de Touros de Urrós,

Mogadouro Mogadouro (, ), officially the Town of Mogadouro (; ), is a List of municipalities of Portugal, municipality in Portugal. The population in ''2011'' was 9,542, in an area of 760.65 km2. History The history of Mogadouro is evident in the nu ...

*Praça de Touros do Cartaxo,

Cartaxo Cartaxo () is a concelho, municipality in the district of Santarém (district), Santarém in continental Portugal. The population in 2011 was 24,462, in an area of 158.17 km2. The urbanized centre of Cartaxo had a population of 9,507 in 2001. ...

*Praça de Touros João Branco Núncio,

Alcácer do Sal Alcácer do Sal () is a municipality in Portugal, located in Setúbal District. The population in 2011 was 13,046, in an area of 1,499.87 km2. History Earliest settlement There has been human settlement in the area for more than 40,000 y ...

*Praça de Touros Carlos Relvas,

Setúbal Setúbal ( , , ; ), officially the City of Setúbal (), is a city and a municipality in Portugal. The population of the entire municipality in 2014 was 118,166, occupying an area of . The city itself had 89,303 inhabitants in 2001. It lies withi ...

France

*The

Arena of Nîmes The Arena of Nîmes (; ) is a Roman amphitheatre in Nîmes, Southern France. Built around 100 AD, shortly after the Colosseum of Rome, it is one of the best-preserved Roman amphitheatres in the world. It is long and wide, with an arena measurin ...

*The

Arles Arles ( , , ; ; Classical ) is a coastal city and Communes of France, commune in the South of France, a Subprefectures in France, subprefecture in the Bouches-du-Rhône Departments of France, department of the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur Reg ...

*The arena in

Alès Alès () is a Communes of France, commune and Subprefectures in France, subprefecture in the Gard Departments of France, department in the Occitania (administrative region), Occitania Regions of France, region in Southern France. Until 1926, i ...

*The arena in Mont de Marsan *The arena in Bouillargues *The arena in

Trèbes Trèbes (; ) is a commune in the Aude department, southern France. It is around 7 km east of the centre of Carcassonne. History Located on an important river crossing, Trèbes was originally known as Tresmals (Three Fords) but in 1110 ...

*The arena in

Vauvert Vauvert (; ) is a commune in the far south of the Gard department in southern France. It was known as ''Posquières'' in the Middle Ages. The commune comprises the town of Vauvert and the villages of Gallician and Montcalm.

*There are also arenas in an important part of small villages of

Camargue The Camargue (, also , , ; ) is a coastal region in southern France located south of the city of Arles, between the Mediterranean Sea and the two arms of the Rhône river delta. The eastern arm is called the Grand Rhône; the western is the ''P ...

Villages round the Camargue, such as Rodilhan in the Gard, who also practise 'mise à mort' - killing the bull.

Africa

* Plaza de toros de Melilla,

Melilla Melilla (, ; ) is an autonomous city of Spain on the North African coast. It lies on the eastern side of the Cape Three Forks, bordering Morocco and facing the Mediterranean Sea. It has an area of . It was part of the Province of Málaga un ...

Algeria

* Arènes d'Oran,

Oran Oran () is a major coastal city located in the northwest of Algeria. It is considered the second most important city of Algeria, after the capital, Algiers, because of its population and commercial, industrial and cultural importance. It is w ...

Angola

*Luanda Bullring,

Luanda Luanda ( ) is the Capital city, capital and List of cities and towns in Angola, largest city of Angola. It is Angola's primary port, and its major industrial, cultural and urban centre. Located on Angola's northern Atlantic coast, Luanda is Ang ...

Morocco

* Plaza de Toros Tangier,

Tangier Tangier ( ; , , ) is a city in northwestern Morocco, on the coasts of the Mediterranean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean. The city is the capital city, capital of the Tanger-Tetouan-Al Hoceima region, as well as the Tangier-Assilah Prefecture of Moroc ...

*Laayoune bullring,

Laayoune Laayoune or El Aaiún (, Latn, ar, al-ʕuyūn , , ) is the largest city of the disputed territory of Western Sahara, with a population of 271,344 in 2023. The city is the ''de jure'' capital of the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic, though it ...

Mozambique

* Praça de Touros Monumental de Lourenço Marques,

Maputo Maputo () is the Capital city, capital and largest city of Mozambique. Located near the southern end of the country, it is within of the borders with Eswatini and South Africa. The city has a population of 1,088,449 (as of 2017) distributed ov ...

Americas

Mexico

Coliseo Centenario The Coliseo Centenario de Torreón (Centennial Coliseum of Torreón in English), officially named "Centro de Espectaculos Coliseo Centenario" is a multi-purpose complex in Torreón, in the state of Coahuila, Mexico. The complex can seat up to 10, ...

Torreón Torreón () is a city and seat of Torreón Municipality in the Mexico, Mexican States of Mexico, state of Coahuila. The city's population is 720,848 inhabitants, making it the second largest city in the state of Coahuila. Also Torreón is par ...

(Currently the biggest bullring worldwide) *

Plaza de Toros Monumental de Aguascalientes Plaza de toros Monumental de Aguascalientes is a bullring in the city of Aguascalientes, Mexico. It is currently used for bullfighting and concerts. The stadium holds 16,000 people and it was inaugurated on November 23, 1974. Its currently the 4th ...

Aguascalientes Aguascalientes, officially the Free and Sovereign State of Aguascalientes, is one of the 32 states which comprise the Political divisions of Mexico, Federal Entities of Mexico. At 22°N and with an average altitude of above sea level it is pre ...

Plaza de Toros Monumental de Tijuana The Plaza Monumental de Tijuana (also called the "Plaza Monumental de Playas de Tijuana" after the neighborhood in which it is located), and popularly known in English as the Bullring by the Sea, is a bullring in Tijuana, Baja California, Mexico. ...

Tijuana Tijuana is the most populous city of the Mexican state of Baja California, located on the northwestern Pacific Coast of Mexico. Tijuana is the municipal seat of the Tijuana Municipality, the hub of the Tijuana metropolitan area and the most popu ...

*Plaza de Toros Santa María,

Santiago de Querétaro Santiago (, ; ), also known as Santiago de Chile (), is the capital and largest city of Chile and one of the largest cities in the Americas. It is located in the country's central valley and is the center of the Santiago Metropolitan Region, ...

Plaza Monumental de Morelia Plaza Monumental de Morelia (Monumental Plaza of Morelia in English), is a multi-purpose complex in Morelia, in the state of Michoacán, Mexico. The complex can seat up to 15,000 people. It accommodates bullfights, jaripeos, and concerts. Ext ...

Morelia Morelia (; from 1545 to 1828 known as Valladolid; Otomi language, Otomi: ) is a city and municipal seat of the municipalities of Mexico, municipality of Morelia in the north-central part of the state of Michoacán in central Mexico. It is both th ...

Plaza Nuevo Progreso The Plaza de toros Nuevo Progreso is a bullring in the Mexican city of Guadalajara, Jalisco. It is currently used for bull fighting and also for hosting musical events, and professional wrestling events. The bullring holds 16,561 people and was ...

Guadalajara Guadalajara ( ; ) is the capital and the most populous city in the western Mexican List of states of Mexico, state of Jalisco, as well as the most densely populated municipality in Jalisco. According to the 2020 census, the city has a population ...

*Plaza El Paseo,

San Luis Potosí San Luis Potosí, officially the Free and Sovereign State of San Luis Potosí, is one of the 32 states which compose the Federal Entities of Mexico. It is divided in 59 municipalities and is named after its capital city, San Luis Potosí. It ...

*Plaza de Toros El Relicario,

Puebla Puebla, officially the Free and Sovereign State of Puebla, is one of the 31 states that, along with Mexico City, comprise the Federal Entities of Mexico. It is divided into 217 municipalities and its capital is Puebla City. Part of east-centr ...

*Plaza Santiago J. Vivanco,

Matehuala Matehuala is a city in the Mexican state of San Luis Potosí, situated at an elevation of about 1,500 m. Matehuala is also the municipal seat of the municipality of the same name, located in the northern part of the state, on the border with ...

*Plaza de Toros Jorge "El Ranchero" Aguilar,

Tlaxcala Tlaxcala, officially the Free and Sovereign State of Tlaxcala, is one of the 32 federal entities that comprise the Political divisions of Mexico, Federal Entities of Mexico. It is divided into Municipalities of Tlaxcala, 60 municipalities and t ...

*Plaza Monumental Zacatecas,

Zacatecas Zacatecas, officially the Free and Sovereign State of Zacatecas, is one of the Political divisions of Mexico, 31 states of Mexico. It is divided into Municipalities of Zacatecas, 58 municipalities and its capital city is Zacatecas City, Zacatec ...

*Plaza Monumental Monterrey Lorenzo Garza,

Monterrey Monterrey (, , abbreviated as MtY) is the capital and largest city of the northeastern Mexican state of Nuevo León. It is the ninth-largest city and the second largest metropolitan area, after Greater Mexico City. Located at the foothills of th ...

*Plaza de Toros Cadereyta,

Cadereyta Jiménez Cadereyta Jiménez is the name of a city as well as of a Municipalities of Nuevo León, municipality in the Mexico, Mexican states of Mexico, state of Nuevo León. The municipality of Cadereyta Jiménez is located in the central part of the state ...

*Plaza de Toros Alejandra,

Durango Durango, officially the Free and Sovereign State of Durango, is one of the 31 states which make up the Political divisions of Mexico, 32 Federal Entities of Mexico, situated in the northwest portion of the country. With a population of 1,832,650 ...

*Plaza de Toros Provincia Juriquilla,

*Plaza La Luz, León *Plaza San Marcos,

*Plaza Silverio Pérez, Texcoco *Plaza Quintana Roo,

Cancún Cancún is the most populous city in the Mexican state of Quintana Roo, located in southeast Mexico on the northeast coast of the Yucatán Peninsula. It is a significant tourist destination in Mexico and the seat of the municipality of Benito J ...

*Plaza El Centenario (The Centennial),

Tlaquepaque Tlaquepaque (), officially San Pedro Tlaquepaque, is a city and the surrounding municipality in the Mexican state of Jalisco. Geography During the 20th century, it was absorbed by the outward spread of the state capital, and is now a fully i ...

*Plaza de Toros Alberto Balderas,

Ciudad Juárez Ciudad Juárez ( , ; "Juárez City"), commonly referred to as just Juárez (Lipan language, Lipan: ''Tsé Táhú'ayá''), is the most populous city in the Administrative divisions of Mexico, Mexican state of Chihuahua (state), Chihuahua. It was k ...

*Plaza Revolución,

Irapuato Irapuato is a Mexican city and municipalities of Mexico, municipality located at the foot of the Arandas Hill (in Spanish Language, Spanish: ''Cerro de Arandas''), in the central region of the Mexican state, state of Guanajuato. It lies between the ...

*Plaza de Mérida Mérida *Plaza Calafia,

Mexicali Mexicali (; ) is the capital city of the States of Mexico, Mexican state of Baja California. The city, which is the seat of the Mexicali Municipality, has a population of 689,775, according to the 2010 census, while the Calexico–Mexicali, Cale ...

*Palacio del Arte,

*Plaza de la Concordia,

Orizaba Orizaba (, Otomi: ) is a city and municipality in the Mexican state of Veracruz. It is located 20 km west of its sister city Córdoba, and is adjacent to Río Blanco and Ixtaczoquitlán, on Federal Highways 180 and 190. The city had a ...

*Plaza de Toros La Esperanza, Chihuahua *Plaza de Toros Vicente Segura,

Pachuca Pachuca (; ), formally known as Pachuca de Soto, is the capital and largest city of the east-central Mexico, Mexican States of Mexico, state of Hidalgo (state), Hidalgo, located in the south-central part of the state. Pachuca Municipality, Pach ...

*Plaza de Toros Rodolfo Gaona,

Cañadas de Obregón Cañadas de Obregón is a town and municipality, in Jalisco in central-western Mexico. It is located in the Altos Sur Region. The municipality covers an area of 182.09 square miles (271.8 km2). It has always been a small town, which first ...

Jalisco Jalisco, officially the Free and Sovereign State of Jalisco, is one of the 31 states which, along with Mexico City, comprise the 32 Political divisions of Mexico, Federal Entities of Mexico. It is located in western Mexico and is bordered by s ...

*Monumental Plaza de Toros El Pinal,

Teziutlán Teziutlán is a city in the northeast of the Mexican state of Puebla. Its 2005 census population was 60,597. It also serves as the municipal seat for the surrounding Teziutlán Municipality. The municipality has an area of 84.2 km2 (32.51 ...

*Monumental Plaza de Toros de Don Antonio,

Tepic Tepic () is the capital and largest city of the western Mexico, Mexican Political divisions of Mexico, state of Nayarit, as well as the seat of the Tepic Municipality. Located in the central part of the state, it stands at an altitude of above ...

*Plaza de Toros La Sinaloense,

Culiacán Culiacán, officially Culiacán Rosales, is a city in northwestern Mexico, the capital and largest city of both Culiacán Municipality and the state of Sinaloa. The city was founded on 29 September 1531 by the Spanish conquistadors Lázaro de ...

*Plaza de Toros Alberto Balderas de Moroleón, Moroleón *Plaza de Toros Monumental de Villahermosa,

Villahermosa Villahermosa ( , ; "Beautiful Town") is the capital and largest city of the Mexican state of Tabasco, and serves as the municipal seat (governing county) of the state. Located in Southeast Mexico, Villahermosa is an important city because of its ...

*Plaza de Toros La Taurina,

Huamantla Huamantla () is a small city in Huamantla Municipality, the municipality of the same name in the eastern half of the Mexican state of Tlaxcala. The area has a long indigenous history, but the city itself was not founded until the early colonial per ...

*Plaza de Toros Jose Julian Llaguno, Tlatenango

Argentina

* Plaza de Toros de Montserrat (1791–1799) *

Plaza de Toros del Retiro Plaza de Toros del Retiro was a bullfighting coliseum of Buenos Aires of the 19th century. This Bullring, Arena was established in the city during the last years of the colonial period. History The Plaza de Toros del Retiro was made by the ar ...

(1801–1818)

Colombia

Santamaría Bullring Santamaría Bullring (Spanish language, Spanish: ''Plaza de Toros de Santamaría'') is a bullring in Bogotá, Bogotá, Colombia, and it is currently used for bullfighting, although it has also been used for concerts and other cultural activitie ...

Bogotá Bogotá (, also , , ), officially Bogotá, Distrito Capital, abbreviated Bogotá, D.C., and formerly known as Santa Fe de Bogotá (; ) during the Spanish Imperial period and between 1991 and 2000, is the capital city, capital and largest city ...

Plaza de Toros La Macarena Plaza de Toros La Macarena is a bullring in Medellín, Colombia. It is currently used for bullfighting and concerts. The stadium holds 15,000 spectators. It was opened in 1945. References

Bullrings in Colombia, Macarena Sports venues com ...

Medellín Medellín ( ; or ), officially the Special District of Science, Technology and Innovation of Medellín (), is the List of cities in Colombia, second-largest city in Colombia after Bogotá, and the capital of the department of Antioquia Departme ...

Plaza de Toros de Manizales Plaza de Toros de Manizales is a bullring located on its homonym city, in the center of Colombia. It's currently used for bullfighting Bullfighting is a physical contest that involves a bullfighter attempting to subdue, immobilize, or kill ...

Manizales Manizales () is a city in central Colombia. It is the capital of the Caldas Department, Department of Caldas, and lies near the Nevado del Ruiz volcano. Currently, the city is the main center for the production of Colombian coffee and an importa ...

*Plaza de Toros Cañaveralejo,

Cali Santiago de Cali (), or Cali, is the capital of the Valle del Cauca department, and the most populous city in southwest Colombia, with 2,280,522 residents estimate by National Administrative Department of Statistics, DANE in 2023. The city span ...

*Plaza de toros El Bosque,

Armenia Armenia, officially the Republic of Armenia, is a landlocked country in the Armenian Highlands of West Asia. It is a part of the Caucasus region and is bordered by Turkey to the west, Georgia (country), Georgia to the north and Azerbaijan to ...

. *Plaza de toros La Pradera,

Sogamoso Sogamoso () is a city in the department of Boyacá of Colombia. It is the capital of the Sugamuxi Province, named after the original Sugamuxi. Sogamoso is nicknamed "City of the Sun", based on the original Muisca tradition of pilgrimage and ado ...

. *Plaza de toros de Vistahermosa, Floridablanca (Santander). *Plaza de toros Monumental Señor de los Milagros, Girón (Santander). *Plaza de toros de Cartagena,

Cartagena de Indias Cartagena ( ), known since the colonial era as Cartagena de Indias (), is a city and one of the major ports on the northern coast of Colombia in the Caribbean Region of Colombia, Caribbean Coast Region, along the Caribbean Sea. Cartagena's past ...

. *Plaza de toros César Rincón,

Duitama Duitama () is a city and municipality in the department of Boyacá. It's the capital of the Tundama Province. Duitama is located northeast of Bogotá, the capital of Colombia and northeast of Tunja, the capital of Boyacá. In 2023 Duitama had ...

. *Plaza de toros Pepe Cáceres,

Ibagué Ibagué () (referred to as San Bonifacio de Ibagué del Valle de las Lanzas during the New Kingdom of Granada, Spanish period) is the capital of Tolima Department, Tolima, one of the 32 departments that make up the Republic of Colombia. The city ...

. *Plaza de toros de San Fermín,

Pamplona Pamplona (; ), historically also known as Pampeluna in English, is the capital city of the Navarre, Chartered Community of Navarre, in Spain. Lying at near above sea level, the city (and the wider Cuenca de Pamplona) is located on the flood pl ...

. *Plaza de toros de Cúcuta,

Cúcuta Cúcuta (), officially San José de Cúcuta, is a Colombian municipality, capital of the department of Norte de Santander and nucleus of the Metropolitan Area of Cúcuta. The city is located in the homonymous valley, at the foot of the East ...

. *Plaza de toros Agustín Barona , Palmira. *Plaza de toros La Real Maestranza,

Guatavita Guatavita is a municipality and town of Colombia in the Guavio Province of the department of Cundinamarca. Guatavita is located 75 km northeast of the capital Bogotá. It borders Sesquilé and Machetá in the north, Gachetá and Junín ...

Ecuador

* Plaza de toros de Quito,

Quito Quito (; ), officially San Francisco de Quito, is the capital city, capital and second-largest city of Ecuador, with an estimated population of 2.8 million in its metropolitan area. It is also the capital of the province of Pichincha Province, P ...

Peru

Plaza de toros de Acho The Plaza de Toros de Acho is the premier bullring in Lima, Peru. Located beside the historical center of the Rímac District, the plaza is classified as a national historic monument. It is the oldest bullring in the Americas and the second-oldes ...

Lima Lima ( ; ), founded in 1535 as the Ciudad de los Reyes (, Spanish for "City of Biblical Magi, Kings"), is the capital and largest city of Peru. It is located in the valleys of the Chillón River, Chillón, Rímac River, Rímac and Lurín Rive ...

. 2nd oldest. 30 January 1766. *Plaza de Toros Sol y Sombra, Lima *Plaza de Toros de la Provincia de Cutervo,

Cajamarca Cajamarca (), also known by the Quechua name, ''Kashamarka'', is the capital and largest city of the Cajamarca Region as well as an important cultural and commercial center in the northern Andes. It is located in the northern highlands of Per ...

*Plaza de Toros "El Vizcaíno", Cajamarca *Plaza de Toros de Trujillo "El Coliseo", Trujillo *Plaza de Toros de El Coliseo,

Huancayo Huancayo (; in , '(place) with a (sacred) rock', ) is the capital of the Junín Region and Huancayo Province, in the central highlands of Peru, in the Mantaro Valley and is crossed by the Shullcas, Chilca and Mantaro rivers. It was founded as a ...

*Plaza de Toros de Sicaya, Huancayo *Plaza de Toros de la Unión,

Huánuco Huánuco (; ) is a city in central Peru. It had a population of 196,627 as of 2017 and in 2015 it had a population of 175,068. It is the capital of the Huánuco Region and the Huánuco District. It is the seat of the diocese of Huánuco. The met ...

*Plaza de Toros de Guadalupe, Ica *Plaza de Toros de Puquío,

Ayacucho Ayacucho (, , derived from the words ''aya'' ("death" or "soul") and ''k'uchu'' ("corner") in honour of the battle of Ayacucho), founded in 1540 as San Juan de la Frontera de Huamanga and known simply as Huamanga (Quechua: Wamanga) until 1825, i ...

Uruguay

* Plaza de toros Real de San Carlos,

Colonia del Sacramento Colonia del Sacramento (; ) is a city in southwestern Uruguay, by the Río de la Plata, facing Buenos Aires, Argentina. It is one of the oldest towns in Uruguay and the capital of the Colonia Department. As of the 2023 census, it has a populatio ...

(closed after prohibition of bull fighting in 1912)

Venezuela

*Plaza Monumental de Valencia,

Valencia, Carabobo Valencia () is the capital city of Carabobo State and the third-largest city in Venezuela. The city is an economic hub that contains Venezuela's top industries and manufacturing companies. It is also the largest city in the Valencia-Maracay ...

. (The 2nd largest bullring in the world) *Maestranza César Girón,

Maracay Maracay () is a city in north-central Venezuela, near the Caribbean coast, and is the capital and most important city of the state of Aragua. Most of it falls under the jurisdiction of Girardot Municipality. The population of Maracay and its ...

* Plaza de toros Monumental de Maracaibo,

Maracaibo Maracaibo ( , ; ) is a city and municipality in northwestern Venezuela, on the western shore of the strait that connects Lake Maracaibo to the Gulf of Venezuela. It is the largest city in Venezuela and is List of cities in Venezuela by population ...

Plaza Monumental de Toros de Pueblo Nuevo Plaza Monumental de toros de Pueblo Nuevo is a Bullring in San Cristóbal, Táchira, San Cristóbal, Venezuela, currently used for bullfighting. The stadium can hold up to 15,000 people and was built in 1967. History Eduardo Santos Castillo was ...

San Cristóbal, Táchira San Cristóbal () is the capital city of the Venezuelan state of Táchira. It is located in a mountainous region of Western Venezuela. The city is situated above sea level in the northern Andes overlooking the Torbes River, from the Colombian ...

Plaza Monumental Román Eduardo Sandia Plaza Monumental Román Eduardo Sandia, also known as the Plaza de toros de Mérida, is a bullring in the city of Mérida, Mérida, Mérida, Venezuela. It is the second largest venue for large scale cultural and artistic events in the city after ...

Mérida, Mérida Mérida, officially known as ''Santiago de los Caballeros de Mérida'', is the capital of the municipality of Libertador and the state of Mérida, and is one of the main cities of the Venezuelan Andes. It was founded in 1558 by Captain Juan ...

United States

*Santa Maria Bullring, San Isidro, Texas

Bullrings by capacity

References

External links

Real Maestranza de Caballería de RondaReal Maestranza de Caballería de SevillaPlaza de Toros, Ronda SpainPlaza de Toros Monumental de Barcelona
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