Ronda’s bullring: what to see and where to eat nearby

An eighteenth-century ring

The bullring was commissioned by the Real Maestranza de Caballería de Ronda, an institution founded in 1573, and opened in 1785 with a bullfight by Pedro Romero and Pepe Illo after six years of building. It is attributed to Martín de Aldehuela, the architect of the Puente Nuevo.

It is built of sandstone with a double gallery of arches: 136 columns form 68 arches over five rows of seating on two levels, under a tiled roof. The ring itself is 66 metres across, one of the things that strikes you most as you walk in.

What to see inside

The visit takes in the ring, the stands and the Real Maestranza’s collections: the bullfighting collection, the Royal Saddlery of the House of Orléans, the Equestrian Gallery and a room on the history of the institution.

Opening times, tickets and private visits are handled on the official Real Maestranza website. Turismo de Ronda also has an official page on the bullring.

The Goyesca

The ring is famous for the Corrida Goyesca, created in 1954 by Antonio Ordóñez, with costumes and decoration recalling Goya’s time. It is held during the Feria de Pedro Romero; dates and tickets are published each year on the official Real Maestranza and Turismo de Ronda channels.

From the bullring to the Puente Nuevo, and lunch

Right next door is the Alameda del Tajo, whose balconies are the first stop on the Ronda viewpoints walk. From there, Calle Virgen de la Paz leads to Plaza de España and the Puente Nuevo.

Crossing the bridge takes you into La Ciudad, the old town. There, where Calle Armiñán begins beside the Mirador de Aldehuela, is La Pilastra: an easy way to eat near the bullring without leaving your walk. If you want to keep exploring afterwards, see eating in the old town.