The Plaza de Toros.

Ronda is the home of the largest, and first ever bullring in Spain, the Plaza de Toros.

For €6.50 (or €8 with an audio guide - we opted without) you can take a full tour of the ring, and the museum of the Matadors, and it is completely worth the money. 

Once inside this significant piece of history, you can make your way through the maze of paths and buildings, such as the equestrian centre, and the rooms in which the bulls were kept, until you eventually reach the centre of the ring itself.

The corridors and paths you walk through are narrow and dark, and it does show how badly these poor bulls were treated, before heading to their death. Even though it's not necessarily (for me personally) a nice thing to see or think about, bullfighting is a significant and integral part of Spanish history and culture, and one that cannot be ignored, particularly in Andalucia. 

However, despite my thoughts on bullfighting, I cannot deny that stepping into the ring is something quite magnificent. 

With the sun shining against the yellow stone, and reflecting off the golden sand that covers the ring floor, the whole area glows with a prestigious feel. 

Ronda's bullring was initially opened in 1784 (a year before Seville), however on the first inaugural corrida part of the stands collapsed and it had to be closed until 1785, when the repairs were completed. It still has boards lining the edge, in which different professionals would stand behind in case of emergency, such as doctors and vets.

Despite laying claim to being the largest bullring in all of Spain, Ronda actually only holds 5000 spectators, which compare to others, is incredibly small. However, the ring itself, where the fights occur, is the larges one in the country. 

The Plaza de Toros, as with all bullrings, has a beautifully painted seating area dedicated only for the royals. However, unlike most bullrings, it is very unusual in that all seats are undercover, meaning that no matter how rich or poor you were, you were always shaded from the burning heat of the Spanish summers.

The end of the visit is completed with a two part museum, tucked away in the base of the ring, behind the seating. Full of historical art work, historical facts, and most impressively an array of stunning costumes from throughout history, it is well worth a wander round.

The matador suits are absolutely tiny, with extremely svelte waists and narrow shoulders, and are embroidered with the most decadent and colourful patterns. 

Whether you agree with bullfighting or not, I can't recommend Ronda's Plaza de Toros enough. Spend a morning, take a picnic, and enjoy the spectacular architecture and craftsmanship of this beautiful piece of history, and integral part of Spanish culture.