The tradition of bullfighting is still carried on here.  The construction of Seville’s ring started in 1761 and lasted for 120 years.  We toured the compound, and it was hard to believe it can hold 12,000.  It looks smaller.  The fights, which run from April to October, sell out, with the seats on the shady side of the ring  costing you double.

The guide, in the red jacket (of course) did a fine job of narrating in Spanish, then English.   We didn’t get to go on the actual field 🙁  I recall when  Dad & I toured Europe we did wander a coliseum field, and he reenacted a lion/Christian battle.

Included was a tour of the museum on site.  It contained 5 rooms of history and artifacts by century, plus a room of bullfighting related art work – prints and paintings.  The suit in the showcase above belonged to a prodigy fighter.  He started at age 9, was ‘the best” at 14, and died in the ring at 25.  The exceptional matadors are quite the heroic figures.

Apparently if the bull does an exceptional job of ‘fighting’, the judge can allow him to live.  It’s happened here – twice in the last few centuries.  Not good odds for the bull, who otherwise ends up in the butcher shop.

Exterior of the building.

We happened upon a Bull fighting trade show, where kids could practice in a mini-ring, capes and such were for sale, and you could buy your own bull (?).   Laura