Bullfighting and the bullring
The controversial spectacle of bullfighting is at the heart of Sevillano culture, a fact which is reflected in the First Category status of its beautiful 18th-century bullring. Though technically it shares this status with six other arenas in Spain, aficionados will tell you the only other plaza de toros to rival Seville’s in prestige is Madrid’s enormous Las Ventas. Even if you’re not prepared to experience what happens on the bright sands of the Real Maestranza (as the Seville plaza is called), a visit to this historic bullring is a must if you’re in the Andalusian capital: it houses a fascinating museum exploring the history of the spectacle, alongside a shop selling the beautifully-designed posters used to advertise bullfights. If you want to see for yourself what the impassioned debate is about, visit Seville during its great Feria de Abril, when several bullfights of the highest quality are held.
Plaza de Toros de Sevilla, 12 Paseo de Cristóbal Colón, Seville, Spain, +34 954 22 45 77